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Germany’s Baerbock rejects handshake by Syrian president
(MENAFN) German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was once again denied a handshake by Syrian President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa during their latest meeting in Damascus, as shown in a video from Thursday’s talks.
Instead of shaking hands, al-Sharaa gestured towards Baerbock's chair, repeating an incident from her January visit, when he also refused to shake her hand but greeted her French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, with a handshake. At the time, Baerbock had stated that she expected such treatment, acknowledging that "ordinary handshakes" were unlikely.
Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has led Syria since December, after the overthrow of longtime president Bashar Assad. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group played a key role in Assad’s downfall. Since assuming power, al-Sharaa—who adheres to hardline Islamist beliefs—has maintained a policy of refusing to shake hands with women.
During her visit, Baerbock reopened Germany’s embassy in Damascus, which had been closed for 13 years following the outbreak of the Syrian conflict. Berlin and other Western nations had previously supported militant groups fighting against Assad, some of which had ties to ISIS.
Meanwhile, Syria has seen continued clashes between the new government’s security forces and local militias in Latakia and Tartus. The violence has reportedly resulted in over 1,300 deaths, including more than 800 civilians, most of whom were Christians and Alawites.
Alawites, a Muslim ethnoreligious group with unique traditions, are viewed as apostates by hardline Islamist factions, contributing to ongoing sectarian tensions in the country.
Instead of shaking hands, al-Sharaa gestured towards Baerbock's chair, repeating an incident from her January visit, when he also refused to shake her hand but greeted her French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, with a handshake. At the time, Baerbock had stated that she expected such treatment, acknowledging that "ordinary handshakes" were unlikely.
Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has led Syria since December, after the overthrow of longtime president Bashar Assad. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group played a key role in Assad’s downfall. Since assuming power, al-Sharaa—who adheres to hardline Islamist beliefs—has maintained a policy of refusing to shake hands with women.
During her visit, Baerbock reopened Germany’s embassy in Damascus, which had been closed for 13 years following the outbreak of the Syrian conflict. Berlin and other Western nations had previously supported militant groups fighting against Assad, some of which had ties to ISIS.
Meanwhile, Syria has seen continued clashes between the new government’s security forces and local militias in Latakia and Tartus. The violence has reportedly resulted in over 1,300 deaths, including more than 800 civilians, most of whom were Christians and Alawites.
Alawites, a Muslim ethnoreligious group with unique traditions, are viewed as apostates by hardline Islamist factions, contributing to ongoing sectarian tensions in the country.
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