New Rulers in Syria Train Police Based on Islamic Law, Concerns of Division Among Citizens Damascus, January 23: Syria’s new rulers are focusing on Islamic teachings to train the country’s police force, a move that has raised concerns among certain sections of the population. Officials say the goal is to instill ethics within the police force and fill the internal security vacuum that emerged after the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.
However, the decision to base police training around Islamic Sharia law is feared to create new divisions among the country's diverse communities. Analysts warn that secular, cosmopolitan populations in Syrian cities may reject such religious laws. "This could be a cause of concern for many Syrian citizens," said Aron Lund, a fellow at the Century International. "It will not only concern minorities, but also many Sunni Muslims living in Damascus and Aleppo, where there is a large secular population."
The previous Assad administration's security forces were removed due to corruption and brutality, and the new administration is attempting to regain control over the security situation. However, this decision to base police training on Islamic law has raised new questions about the country’s internal peace and security.
