Ahmed Zidan.. Sharaa’s new advisor’s background and controversy surrounding him

Ahmad Muwaffaq Zidan is a Syrian journalist born in Idlib in 1966. He is best known for his work as an Al Jazeera correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past two decades. He is known for his extensive coverage of extremist Islamic jihadist movements, including the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and Al Qaeda. He has conducted exclusive interviews with designated terrorist figures from around the world.

Positions

Zidan joined Al Jazeera when its office was established in Islamabad in the early 1990s. He served as bureau chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan, becoming one of the most prominent correspondents specializing in jihadist affairs. After leaving his field television work, he turned to writing and analysis, publishing articles in several newspapers and websites and participating in seminars and research platforms.

Political and ideological background

Some observers believe that Zidan harbors sympathetic or supportive tendencies toward "jihadist Islamic movements," based on the nature of his media coverage, which has sometimes justified the actions of these organizations or presented them in a context that softens their extremist image. In 2015, his name was mentioned in documents leaked by WikiLeaks, revealing that he was under FBI surveillance as part of an investigation into his ties to jihadist leaders, including al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.

He has also been noted for his activity within intellectual entities close to the Muslim Brotherhood, most notably his membership in the General Secretariat of the Organization for the Support of the Prophet Muhammad, which is part of the Muslim Brotherhood's ideological bloc. This has raised further questions about his political neutrality.

His Relationship with Idlib and al-Julani

Zidan visited Idlib ten years ago and played a key role in arranging a press conference with the then-leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, on Al Jazeera.

Later reports revealed that Zidan mediated to deliver to al-Julani a draft of political proposals brought by opposition figures from Saudi Arabia, with the aim of convincing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to agree to an internal reconciliation agreement. The proposals included 11 points, and he is considered a figure ideologically and organizationally close to HTS.

His name resurfaced during the opening of the Faculty of Political Science and Media in Idlib, where he delivered a lengthy speech thanking the "leadership of the liberated areas" and praising the "Sunni entity" project. This was considered an indication of his symbolic influence within HTS's inner circle. One analyst commented at the time, "Zidan was not just a guest of honor at the ceremony; he seemed to be the true master of the house, presiding over the college and university officials and the Minister of Higher Education."

Critical reaction to his appointment

The decision to appoint Zidan as a political and media advisor to Ahmad al-Sharaa faced harsh criticism, particularly from secular and liberal Syrian activists, who viewed the move as an attempt to remarket political Islam in a "soft" light.

Analysts expressed concerns that the presence of a figure with ideological affinity for jihadist factions in an advisory position within a new political project could strengthen the dominance of "Salafi-jihadist thought" over Syria's future.

International parties concerned with the Syrian issue also expressed their concerns, describing this appointment as a negative indicator for the country's prospects for democratic transition.

Syrian journalist Rami Zein Al-Dein wrote on his Facebook page: "Appointing Zidan as an advisor to the presidency... the beginning of a more terrifying era," "in light of the dubious past of this figure, who has always openly declared his support for jihadist groups."

Potential Implications

Observers fear that this appointment will cement the transitional government as a political extension of "hardline Islamist" forces, rather than presenting it as a comprehensive national alternative. This could also erode the confidence of the international community and Western backers in any political initiative issued by this government, and threaten to exclude civil and independent voices from decision-making circles in favor of a media and political elite historically associated with jihadist discourse.

The appointment of Ahmed Muwaffaq Zidan as an advisor to Ahmed al-Sharaa reflects a deeper crisis in the mechanisms for producing leaders within the forces that comprise the transitional government. Despite his presentation as a seasoned media professional with field experience, his professional and ideological record remains divisive and could undermine any project seeking to attract a broader spectrum of Syrians and the international community.

Sh-S

ANHA