(Zaman Al Wasl)- Militant Tahrir Al Sham group on Saturday has suspended its decision to open a crossing point with regime-held areas in northern Idlib province such a move came in response to the residents outrage.
According to Zaman al-Wasl correspondent, Tahrir Al Sham has deployed elements of its security forces along the road between Sarmin and Saraqib, which prevented civilians arriving in the area from protesting.
Most of religious, media and military figures have condemned Tahrir al-Sham trial to open the commercial crossing, saying it will be a betrayal of the revolution and the sacrifices of its martyrs.
Idlib province is home to 3.5 million civilians, according to the United Nations.
The people of Maarret al-Numan, the largest city in Idlib region, have voiced their rejection of the crossing which they considered as a lifeline extended to the regime and an explicit recognition of its jurisdiction over the occupied areas, which sends a rather cruel message to the people of these areas that there is no hope of them ever returning there.
More than 50 religious, military and media figures have signed a petition rejecting the decision of opening the crossing, and holding Tahrir al Sham responsible for all consequences resulting from it. Similarly, the people of Ghab Plain, have called for a stand against those who are trying to normalize the regime and trample all over the dignity of the people who had sacrificed so much to overthrow tyranny.
The Muslim Scholars Association issued a fatwa prohibiting the opening of any crossing as well as any trade with the regime.
A source from Tahrir Al Sham confirmed the authority’s intention is to open the crossing as a "commercial" deal, with no political dimensions, to revitalize trade that would “bring economic benefits to the liberated areas,” as well as an alternative to the Murak crossing.
The source said that the authorities have taken all precautions to avoid the spread of Coronavirus through the crossing. People coming from regime-controlled areas will not be allowed to enter, while trucks will be sterilized in the crossing yard, then moved by drivers from the liberated areas to be emptied and returned to the crossing again.
Turkey, which backs rebels opposed to Bashar al-Assad, agreed a ceasefire with Russia three last March after months of fighting displaced nearly 1 million people in Idlib. Moscow supports Syrian regime forces.
The agreement did not force the Assad forces to roll back significant military gains made in Russian-backed offensive for the past three months — a key Turkish demand prior to the talks.
The nine-year-old war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and forced 13 million people from their homes, half of whom have left their shattered homeland.
Zaman Al Wasl
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