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Washington Post: ‘Incontrovertible’ Evidence Islamic Law Now Overtaking Rebel-Held Syria

Mar. 20, 2013 11:40am Erica Ritz

Washington Post: Syrian Rebels Now Dominated by Islamic Extremists

Syrian rebels take position in the northwestern Syrian town of Jisr al-Shughur on January 25, 2013. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

A Tuesday Washington Post report definitively concludes that Islamic extremists dominate certain areas of rebel-held Syria, and their power only seems to be on the rise. The revolution may have begun as a spontaneous democratic uprising against longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, but the eager activists appear to have been outnumbered by radicals eager to impose Islamic law.

After highlighting a case where an activist dropped an Islamic banner and was subsequently beaten with a pipe, calling it “incontrovertible evidence” of the changing power dynamic, the Washington Post writes:

After mutating last year into a full-scale war, [the uprising] is moving toward what appears to be an organized effort to institute Islamic law in areas that have fallen under rebel control.

Building on the reputation they have earned in recent months as the rebellion’s most accomplished fighters, Islamist units are seeking to assert their authority over civilian life, imposing Islamic codes and punishments and administering day-to-day matters such as divorce, marriage and vehicle licensing.

Numerous Islamist groups are involved, representing a wide spectrum of views. But, increasingly, the dominant role is falling to Jabhat al-Nusra, also known as the al-Nusra Front. The group has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States for suspected ties to al-Qaeda but is widely respected by many ordinary Syrians for its battlefield prowess and the assistance it has provided to needy civilians. [Emphasis added]

Rebel fighters carry heavy weapons as they prepare to fight against Syrian regime forces in the village of Kurnaz, close to the western city of Hama, on January 27, 2013. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

The Jabhat al-Nusra forms some of the muscle behind the “Shariah Authority” Hayaa al-Sharia– known colloquially as the Hayaa– but other sects of the rebellion also support the Hayaa, giving them near-absolute control in some areas.

“For many Aleppo residents weary of the months of chaos after the takeover of their neighborhoods by unruly rebel fighters who have looted homes and shaken down civilians, the authority is welcomed as an attempt to restore order,” the Washington Post writes.

But what of the bright-eyed democracy-seekers who started the revolution? The secular activists are reportedly beginning to face punishment at the hands of other rebels.

After well-known rebel doctor Othman al-Haj Othman took down a poster with the Muslim declaration of faith from his hospital wall, he was promptly arrested and held overnight in prison.

“They think the same way as Bashar. There is no difference,” he said angrily after his release. “Those people don’t represent the revolution. They don’t understand the revolution…They have power, they have guns, but they don’t have support. When there are free elections, you will see.”

But there is little hope of fair and free elections anytime soon, and neither rebel camp is anxious to launch a war on two fronts.

“I think the real war [for Syria's future] will start after toppling the regime,” longtime rebel Abu Mariam warned.

Click here to read the entire Washington Post report.

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Comments (36)

MrKnowItAll
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:58pm
I used to like I dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. Where Baghdad and the rest of the Middle East looked like a Nice Place to Visit. Now you must be a Proven Islamist to go there.

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SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:06pm
Do whatever it takes to make it stop even if we have to have Islamic law because they will give us assistance financially.

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The-Monk
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:36pm
In the second photo the rocket launcher has English writing on it…

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zoro51
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:27pm
sharia diareah man made murdering cultic law MEANS ****… thier laws are not laws but dictations of murder and hate even to thier own families new converts they dont care they will KILL because MURDERING MUSLUMS are blood thirsty thier “laws” are FALSE

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:35pm
  What’s next? Talmudic typhus?
  
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spirited
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:26pm
The Arab

>Spring cleaning

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barber2
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:22pm
Ah, that beautiful Arab Spring. The International Left looooves the Arab Spring so why wouldn’t their local franchise in America, the Obama Administration love the Arab Spring which is bent on toppling existing government s to initiate their Islamic Sharjah Caliphate ?? Democracy ? My foot. Like Erdogan once said : ” Democracy is like a bus. You ride it until it comes to your stop.” These rebels are just an amalgamation of various groups all bent on destroying the existing order. ” CHANGE ? ” Remember that word?? Sound familiar ? In the end the Islamic fanatics will control the entire ME and probably North Africa. Sound be interesting. Nice that our own White House enabled this disaster.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:37pm
  If you focused on America as intently as you do on Israel and the Middle East, we might have a better nation.
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:06pm
The Caliphate is coming, and Obama is determined to have his place in the new structure coming about there; he wants them to see him as their god-king on earth, when he fails to see how badly he is being played by them in his insanity.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:18pm
  None of our business. Stay out.
  
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chatmandu002
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:55pm
The US should get out and stay out. Let the Islamist annihilate each other. Islam, the religion of submission and oppression.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:23pm
  We should sell arms to both sides and let them destroy each other, and make a profit.
  
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- JRook
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:34pm
  @The_Jerk And that is exactly why we are in Syria and any other number of Arab countries. Syria is 80+ percent Muslims. What type of law would you expect them to have?
  
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- dblaess
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:57pm
  @JRook
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:34pm
  @The_Jerk And that is exactly why we are in Syria and any other number of Arab countries. Syria is 80+ percent Muslims. What type of law would you expect them to have?
  ————————————————————————-
  Why I would expect them to have Democracy and as Arab Spring look to Obama as their inspiration. So you are correct, Syria is 80+ Muslims. Therefore, they are having the type of law they, you, and Obama would expect. Thank you.
  
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The_Fifth_Column
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:53pm
In the photo….. This is a variant of the UB32 Russian Helicopter Rocket Launcher. It fires 220 mm FFAR , Folding Fin Aircraft Rockets. Much like our 2.75 inch FFAR. It has been modified to mount in a truck bed, much like the Afghanis and Libyans did. More than likely came from Libya after there little skirmish. They are very inaccurate use like this.

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JeffersonsPen
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:43pm
History “PROVED” that the lesser of to wrongs (a ruthless dictator) controlling a predomantly muslim land was better than the this ! The left saids “They must have freedom for these tyrants !” and the end result is worse. Islam is a virus…………..PERIOD !

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- barber2
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:33pm
  Agree. I do not think they have politically evolved enough yet. And I think America is politically devolving under the influence of the radical Left.
  
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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:42pm
  @ Barber and since they haven’t “evolved” much at all in 1400 years I don’t see it hapening ever…
  
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KidCharlemagne
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:25pm
Corporate media has attempted to hide this from us for nearly a year:

Ben Swann’s ‘Full Disclosure’ (March 19, 2013):
YouTube: “Al Qaeda in Syria, the Story You Haven’t Heard?”

Sadly enough, they don’t make journalists like Ben Swann anymore…

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- PutGodBackInAmerica
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:19pm
  Indeed I go to British media or even Russian when I want to find out the truth. It is not to be found in American Media of any stripe. A few Blogs have truth on a few subjects but that is it. All have been totally corrupted by money and power.
  
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richauthor
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:20pm
And WHO did not know that this was going to happen?

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:16pm
That “heavy weapon” strapped to the back of a pick up truck, is stenciled in English?

Every dime sent to one of these Islamic nations, does one thing, support the religion of Islam, and helps establish a religion, something politicians swear on Holy Bibles before they begin their jobs, in front of US Citizens, they will not violate the principals of the US Constitution?

Where is the story on the UN treaty? Everyone is talking about Beyonce, not signing UN Treaties that would violate the 2nd amendment?

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- JeffersonsPen
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:50pm
  That weapon was mad to be mounted to a hard point on an aircraft, specificly a helicopter. I have been waiting for our dumba55 media to screw up and publish pictures of U.S. made weapons in the hands of the “Rebels” for some time. The right photo could help draw a line from Syria through turkey across the Med. to Libya across the Atlantic and land in the Oval !
  
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Gonzo
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:15pm
I am less than shocked.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:19pm
  I’m trying to remember if anyone actually denied it would happen? I wonder if Vegas takes odds on political events?
  
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- Zipit
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:38pm
  Did you say shocked? http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=aBTpjkPiVyg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaBTpjkPiVyg
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:41pm
  Islamist fighters fight for Islam. It’s not that tough of a concept, is it Cav?
  
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Moozmom
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:11pm
Refer to the Book of Daniel. A Shiite Muslim from Syria arises as the antichrist.

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steve-in-pa
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:09pm
The writing on that “heavy weapon” is written in english.

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- Ailius
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:42pm
  I doubt that we directly handed that particular piece of hardware to these guys. It appears to be a rocket launcher designed to be mounted on a helicopter. Most likely somebody we sell helicopters to “lost” it.
  
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Godisalie
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:08pm
Blah, blah, blah. Just more propaganda to rile up the American sheeple for another war. Syria is allied with Iran, Russia, and China and will need to be taken over before Iran, so they cannot support them. Iran has to be taken over because they stopped trading oil in US dollars last year.

Saddam Hussein wanted to stop trading oil in US dollars, so did Muammar Gaddafi. The Iranian oil bourse stopped trading oil in US dollars about a year ago. The petrodollar system is essential for the empire, and will be protected at all costs.

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UBETHECHANGE
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:05pm
“Now taking over rebel-held Syria” Now? How about always! It’s been this way from the beginning and the our government is helping them right along to achieve their Islamic caliphate.

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soldierofthecross
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 11:57am
Two of the men in that last photo look like Americans to me. People need to realize these people don’t know or want real freedom they want total control, so that they can implement their law and try to destroy Israel.

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SciPro
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 11:55am
Yeah … An expected out-come, to the weapons supplied to the rebels by the Obama camp … we will all reap the rewards of the Benghazi supply fiasco. There will be ‘no’ end to the recriminations over this development … just saying

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denkat56
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 11:53am
All according to Obama’s plans .

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AvengerK
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 11:44am
Another blunder of the Obama regime.

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