A Dangerous Normalization of Jihadist Rhetoric under Syria's Transitional Religious Authority

In a recent televised interview, Syria’s Minister of Religious Endowments under the so-called transitional authority made a deeply alarming statement. While attempting to project a message of moderation, he openly affirmed:

“Jihad exists and will remain until the Day of Judgment.”

This was followed by a seemingly casual acknowledgment that 8,000 mosques across Syria conduct Friday sermons, and that only “eight” preachers deviate into more extreme rhetoric, a number he framed as negligible.

But a simple calculation paints a different picture: If just eight mosques preach radical jihadist messages, and each hosts hundreds of worshipers weekly, we are looking at thousands of individuals regularly exposed to extremist ideology, under the protection and normalization of the religious establishment itself.

Even more troubling is the minister’s assertion that he is not inventing a new discourse, but rather promoting “the discourse of Islam.” This blurs the line between spiritual teachings and militarized interpretations of Islam and legitimizes militant narratives as part of mainstream belief.

This rhetoric is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. It reveals how extremist thought can be cloaked in the language of tradition and embedded within the very institutions tasked with promoting unity and moderation. He downplayed the danger of extremist voices in Friday sermons, saying only 8 preachers deviate across 8,000 mosques, but that means thousands are being exposed weekly to radical ideologies. Even more worrying, he claimed this is not a new narrative, but “the discourse of Islam itself.” This normalization of militant jihadist rhetoric within official institutions is deeply dangerous and must be addressed.

We must not mistake soft-spoken extremism for moderation.#Syria #Extremism #JihadistRhetoric #ReligiousInstitutions #Deradicalization #PeaceBuilding