Publication

Alleged by the Syrian regime and reluctantly acknowledged by the opposition, the presence of a powerful Salafi strand among Syria’s rebels has become irrefutable. This report, which is based both on field work in Syria and a systematic analysis of the rebel factions’ own communications, reinforces this view by clarifying the origins, growth and impact of the opposition’s politico-religious fundamentalism. It further explores the place of Salafism within the spectrum of militant Syrian groups and distinguishes the most extreme Salafi-jihadi elements from their mainstream counterparts.