📰 Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the Potential to Challenge Damascus’ Authority

The syrian Muslim Brotherhood has positioned itself, through its latest political discourse, to the left of the country’s ruling elite. Indeed, it presents a version of “political Islam” in its newly issued document, Coexistence in syria/" class="smart-internal-link" title="📰 Justice Ministry, SNHR discuss cooperation on transitional justice in Syria">syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria, signalling a potential rhetorical, political and ideological confrontation that could either enrich Syria’s public political sphere or provoke a repressive backlash—deepening polarisation within the Sunni community. The direction this dynamic takes ultimately lies in the hands of decision-makers at the summit of power in damascus. While some observers downplay the significance of the Brotherhood’s document—arguing the group lacks popular backing and suffers from outdated leadership, tools and tactics—others cite the sharp response from Ahmad Muwaffaq Zaidan, the leader’s media adviser.

In a controversial article published on Al Jazeera Net on 22 August 2025, titled When Will the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria Dissolve Itself? , Zaidan’s rhetoric reflects the regime’s recognition of the Brotherhood’s symbolic weight. That weight may yet crystallise into an organised political force capable of challenging the regime’s dominance over Syria’s “Sunni political space. ” Since February 2025, the Brotherhood has repeatedly rejected any adversarial stance towards the ruling authorities or the leader personally. Instead, it describes itself as a “supportive and honest advisor” committed to building a modern, civilian state grounded in an Islamic framework, as outlined in a statement from the group’s Shura Council on 7 August 2025. Sectarian Rhetoric and the Brotherhood’s Response While certain religious figures and clerics aligned with the regime have propagated exclusionary and sectarian rhetoric, inflaming tensions among Syria’s diverse communities, the Brotherhood’s Coexistence document addresses this vulnerability in the regime’s performance.

Senior figures in the ruling elite may project moderation and centrism, but they have failed to curtail the divisive language and practices of lower-ranking or affiliated individuals. This inconsistency is precisely the gap the Brotherhood is attempting to exploit. Although criticisms of the regime—particularly its alignment with foreign powers—have occasionally emerged from Brotherhood-linked sources, their impact has remained minimal. Nevertheless, in the wake of unrest in Suweida in mid-July 2025, the Shura Council issued a statement advocating for the “inclusive participation of all Syrian components in state-building through a pluralistic political programme” and encouraging a “coexistence rhetoric” devoid of sectarian provocation.

This statement laid the groundwork for the Coexistence in Syria document, articulating the Brotherhood’s broader vision for national reconciliation and civil peace. Regime’s Reaction and Symbolic Shifts Two weeks after the Shura Council’s statement, Zaidan’s…