Syria: The New Government Leaves Christians Perplexed

In the official photograph of the new government, among the 23 ministers, one figure stands out: Hind Kabawat, designated Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. She is the only woman and sole Christian representative in a cabinet dominated by associates of Al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Her appointment, however, raises questions. Is she a true agent of Syrian renewal or a symbolic endorsement aimed at legitimizing a regime with a strong Islamist influence among minorities and the international community? Officially, the new government team is supposed to reflect the country's ethnic and religious diversity.

This cabinet includes representatives of minorities—a Kurd, a Druze, an Alawite, and Hind Kabawat, a Catholic. However, this facade of "inclusiveness" contrasts with the concentration of power in the hands of Al-Sharaa, who has been granted legislative, executive, and judicial prerogatives, while the post of Prime Minister remains vacant.

Strategic ministries, such as Defense and Foreign Affairs, are held by al-Sharaa loyalists, reinforcing the idea of ​​a regime dominated by HTS jihadists. Hind Kabawat's appointment can be interpreted as an attempt to create the illusion of pluralism, while power remains anchored in an Islamist ideology.

Hind Kabawat, born in 1974 in Damascus, is a well-known figure in Syrian opposition circles. A Catholic of Syrian origin and a Canadian citizen, she holds degrees in economics from the University of Damascus, law from the University of Beirut, and a master's degree in international relations from Tufts University. She specializes in interreligious dialogue and conflict resolution. She directed the Syrian Center for Dialogue at George Mason University.

"I tried to convince people that more women ministers were needed, but it was complicated, given the imperative to ensure ethnic and religious diversity within the government. However, there is no excuse for there to be only one female minister. I was promised that more women would be appointed to high positions," she assured a correspondent for Le Monde.

This Catholic mother of two children wants to believe in the good will of the current master of Damascus: "My ministry is one of the most important in the post-conflict period, given the number of orphans, displaced and vulnerable people in the country," she assures.

Yet her inclusion in an HTS-led government raises questions about her true role.

As a Catholic in a predominantly Muslim cabinet led by a former jihadist leader, she represents a vulnerable minority in a country where Christians, who represented 10% of the population before the war, have seen their numbers drastically decline. Her presence can be seen as a pledge of protection for religious minorities, but also as a political strategy to allay the fears of international observers.

Shortly after the appointment of the new government, the Zenit news agency highlighted the cautious optimism of some Catholic observers. For Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus, Hind Kabawat's presence is a "sign of hope" for Syrian Christians, who suffered under Assad and fear an uncertain future under an Islamist regime.

However, this hope is tempered by HTS's past, known for its crimes against minorities and its ideology, even though al-Sharaa has attempted to moderate its rhetoric, notably by promising to respect religious diversity. This strategy is not without precedent. In other contexts, regimes have used minority figures to mask their abuses.

In Syria, where Alawites dominated under Assad despite their minority status, the instrumentalization of identities is nothing new. Hind Kabawat, despite her skills, is likely to be reduced to remaining a mere symbol, with little real power in a government where key decisions remain in the hands of al-Sharaa and its Islamist allies.

In any case, on the Old Continent, there are no illusions about Bashar al-Assad's successor: "Given our criteria," explained a European diplomat interviewed by Le Figaro, "the numbers don't quite add up. But given regional standards, can we expect more?"

Suffice it to say that the new government's first measures will be carefully scrutinized by Syria's Christians. Moreover, Ahmed al-Sharaa has already warned that he "will not be able to satisfy everyone," admitting: "The measures we take will not necessarily be met with a consensus."