Syria rebel leader dismisses controversy over photo with woman

Both liberals and conservatives criticised Ahmed al-Sharaa, after he asked the woman to cover her hair before the picture.

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The incident sparked criticism from both liberal and conservative commentators amid intense speculation about the county's future direction after rebels swept to power.

Liberals saw the request from the head of the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a sign that he might seek to enforce an Islamic system in Syria after leading the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, while hardline conservatives criticised him for consenting to be photographed with the woman in the first place.

"I did not force her. But it's my personal freedom. I want photos taken for me the way that suits me," Sharaa said in an interview with the BBC's Jeremy Bowen.

The woman, Lea Kheirallah, has also said that she was not bothered by the request.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gpkzxy663o

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