Hind Kabawat’s mission in the spirit of Fr Dall'Oglio for an inclusive Syria
AsiaNews interviewed the only woman, a Catholic, on the Committee of Seven set up by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Amid sanctions and economic crisis, the challenges of reconstruction affect the country and its people. For her, “Syria is not a single thing: Christians, Muslims, every ethnic group must be part of the process.” And “women should be at least 30 per cent or even more in the various bodies, starting with the Constituent Assembly.”
Milan (AsiaNews) – Prof Hind Kabawat, a Christian scholar and lawyer, with a long academic career specialising in conflict resolution, talked to AsiaNews about the foundations and principles on which to build the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a new Syria that follows in the footsteps of Fr Paolo dall'Oglio, the Italian Jesuit who went missing in July 2013 after entering the headquarters of the Islamic State group to plead for the release of several hostages, including Christians.
Ideals of justice should guide the country because the clergyman is "our mentor" and "we are very happy that one of the people loyal to him, Father Jihad, is a member of the body that will deal with national dialogue. The spirit of Father Paul was about building bridges, not walls."
Prof Kabawat is the only Christian member of the Committee of Seven in charge of preparing the Syrian National Dialogue Conference set up by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who overthrew the old regime in a few weeks as the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) rebel group. This is a key step to draft a new Constitution and build a new state.
Hind Kabawat, a Catholic born in 1974 and mother of two, comes from a mixed family with a Greek Catholic father and a Greek Orthodox mother. She graduated in economics from Damascus University and obtained a law degree from the Arab University in Beirut. This was followed by a Master's Degree in International Relations in the United States and a specialisation in Conflict Resolution and Strategy Leadership at the University of Toronto (Canada) and Negotiation at Harvard University. She is the director of Interfaith Peacebuilding at George Mason University's Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University and was deputy head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission's Geneva Office.
Several issues remain unresolved, including international sanctions, rebuilding the country devastated by war, relations with the Kurdish minority in the north-east, and international relations, starting with Israel's military activism that saw the Jewish State hit a military depot in Latakia province. In this context, the first part of the work of the National Conference was concluded, attended by more than 600 people. The final statement highlighted the importance of a united country, weapons and the military under state control, and the need to accelerate the process towards the new Constitution.
The interview with Hind Kabawat follows:
How do you judge this first phase of the Committee's work?
We did our best in a country that has been ruined, devastated by more than 14 years of war. It is a very hard job to bring together hundreds of people to represent every region, every city in the country, every ethnic group, every religion, men and women. There are many challenges but we have tried to achieve the maximum possible. They chose me (for the Committee of Seven) because since 2011, since the start of the Syrian Revolution, I have stood by the people, with the oppressed against the oppressor, helping people, especially women and youth, and because of my decades of work in the field of mediation and conflict resolution.
How important is the presence of a woman, and a Christian?
The goal is to ensure inclusion and diversity within the programme and the political process. We cannot have just one colour because there is not only one colour in the country. Being a Christian is important, but being Syrian is even more important. This is also a way of saying that Syria is not a single thing: Christians, Muslims, every ethnic group must be part of the process. We need everyone and each voice must be represented. The underlying message is precisely that of inclusion.
Is it possible to draw an initial assessment of the work of President Ahmad al-Sharaa and the new leadership in Damascus?
I think this government is trying to do its best in a very difficult situation. The country is in ruins, bankrupt; there is no money to invest, to promote projects, also because the Assads have taken everything. To this we must add the sanctions, because we are still on the black list; we do not have a solid economy. There is the issue of refugees, of internally displaced persons. About 80 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. All these elements indicate how difficult it is to do anything. Some groups linked to the old regime try to create problems. Finally, another factor that is not secondary is the resumption of international relations that were cut off and now need rebuilding, except for Russia and China. We must open the door to diplomacy, build bridges between Syria and other countries; in this perspective, President Sharaa's recent visit to Jordanian King Abdullah II is important, also to deal with the issue of the [closed] borders between the two countries. Work is underway in a delicate balance between finding a solution for people and thinking about how to attract investors and money.
What are the main challenges of the post-Assad era?
The first one is the economy. Then there is the issue of security, in particular in the north-east of the country (the Kurdish-majority area), which is unstable, as well as the presence of Israel trying to occupy part of our land (the Golan Heights). The economy and government finances are key because we have no money to pay wages, which, combined with the lack of food while the Muslim population has recently begun Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer. Many challenges lay ahead and we must try to solve them as soon as possible.
In this critical situation, lifting sanctions, invoked by many parties, becomes fundamental...
Relaxing or removing sanctions is also one of the priorities; indeed, it is the most important thing for the economy. Most of those living in poverty are women and children. Reassessing sanctions is also essential for Syria's stability, to stop future wars and conflicts, as well as end tensions, sectarian violence or similar issues. It would also allow us to have different economic perspectives, open new businesses, allow people to live in dignity, which is the most important aspect.
From the Committee to the Conference, and finally the new Constitution: On what foundations is the new Syria’s future being built?
First, the new Constitution must establish the principle of equality: All citizens must be equal before the law, regardless of their faith, ethnicity or sect, women or men. Second, we need respect for religion and groups. Third point, we must not think about whether we are a secular state or a country that is inspired by elements of religion, the important thing is that it is a civil state with equality among its various constituents.
How do you see the future of women and what role can they play in the new Syria?
Women are taking on a role in the economy and civil society, as well as politics where they are increasingly involved. Syria cannot rebuild its state without women; they are part of society and must be present in every area of life, from the economic to the political... This is why we insist that women should be at least 30 per cent or even more in the various bodies, starting with the Constituent Assembly.
What will be the Committee’s next steps and its priorities?
To set up a commission aimed at drafting the Constitution. We need to start now to outline its principles, make certain that the new government is inclusive and make sure that there are no gaps in our system.
In recent months there has been no shortage of incidents and worrying sectarian attacks - albeit isolated - on minorities, including Christians. Is there any concern?
We have taken positive steps and some negative ones. After 14 years of massacres, the blood spilled and almost half a million deaths, millions of displaced persons, who paid a very high price for the war, there may be a desire for revenge, with the risk of further bloodshed, and other conflicts. However, so far we have not had any escalation, a plunge into confessional or sectarian conflict thanks to civil society. Some incidents, isolated episodes of violence, have been reported, but the government and civil society groups are working hard to avert further conflicts. We must continue with this approach, protecting the country and its people from revenge, because it is the only way forward.
What is your hope for the future of the country?
Syria is for all Syrians. Of course, those who have blood on their hands and committed crimes must not be involved in political life or the reconstruction process. They cannot be part of the new administration. They must be tried; there must be a judicial system that tries them, but those who have nothing to do with the crimes must be reinstated (even if they are linked to the Assad era). Finally, a personal thought: The memory of Father Paolo Dall'Oglio is still alive in us, he is our mentor and we are very happy that one of the people loyal to him, Father Jihad [Youssef], is a member of the body that deals with national dialogue. The spirit of Father Paolo was about building bridges, not walls. His work is still alive among us; from day one, we have been inspired by his Christian principles, for a true national dialogue.
(This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
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