Maher Marwan

Maher Marwan
ماهر مروان
Governor of Damascus
Assumed office
15 December 2024
LeaderAhmed al-Sharaa
Preceded byMohammad Yasser Ghazal (Acting)
Personal details
BornDamascus, Syria
EducationBachelor's degree in Islamic Sharia

Maher Marwan (Arabic: ماهر مروان) is the current Governor of Damascus, appointed on 15 December 2024 following the fall of the Assad regime.[1]

Early life and education

Maher Marwan was in Damascus, Syria. He holds a bachelor's degree in Islamic Sharia and worked for ten years in business administration.[1]

During the early stages of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Marwan fled to Idlib due to persecution by security forces loyal to the Assad regime. There he became a vocal critic of Assad, describing him as having "built a wall between himself and the people".[1]

Statements on Israel

In December 2024, Marwan made headlines for remarks during an interview with NPR, where he stated, "We are not afraid of Israel, nor do we want to engage in anything that threatens Israel's security or any other nation's security".[2] He later clarified his comments, emphasizing that his focus was on internal peace in Syria, not foreign relations.[3][4]

Marwan also called on the United States to convey a message to Israel, expressing a desire for peace. His comments sparked reactions from both local and international analysts, with some viewing them as indicative of a pragmatic shift in Syrian policy.[2]

Personal life

Marwan has consistently denied affiliations with extremist groups such as al-Qaeda. He expressed support for the decision by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham to sever ties with al-Qaeda, aligning with his focus on national stability and reform.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Who is Maher Marwan, the new Governor of Damascus, who caused controversy over Israel?". Al Mashhad (in Arabic). 28 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Al-Shalchi, Hadeel (26 December 2024). "Governor of Damascus tells NPR about the new Syrian government's plans with Israel". NPR. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  3. ^ "How did the Governor of Damascus respond to statements attributed to him about peace with Israel?". Syria TV (in Arabic). 27 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Syria: The new Governor of Damascus denies calling for peace with Israel". Sky News Arabia (in Arabic). 28 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.