Al-Sharaa appoints terror-loving Ahmad Zidan as his advisor

Ahmad Muwaffaq Zidan (also spelled Ahmed Zaidan or variations like Ahmad Muaffaq Zidan) is a Syrian-Pakistani journalist with a long and contentious career in media, particularly in covering terro groups in the Middle East and South Asia. His recent appointment as a media and political advisor to Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and de facto president of Syria's transitional government, has ignited significant debate.

This move comes amid Syria's turbulent transition following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 by HTS-led forces, with al-Sharaa positioning himself as a pragmatic leader seeking international legitimacy despite his own jihadist roots. Zidan's role appears focused on shaping the new administration's media strategy and political outreach, but his past associations with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden have raised alarms about the government's potential extremist leanings.

Zidan's Professional Background

Zidan, born in Syria but based in Pakistan for much of his career, worked as a correspondent for Al Jazeera's Islamabad bureau from the late 1990s through the 2010s. He gained prominence for his access to hard-to-reach militant figures, conducting exclusive interviews with high-profile jihadists. Notably, he interviewed Osama bin Laden on multiple occasions, including in the 1990s when bin Laden was building al-Qaeda's network in Afghanistan and Sudan. His reporting often portrayed these groups in a sympathetic light, leading critics to label him a propagandist rather than an objective journalist. Zidan's work extended to covering the Taliban and other Islamist factions, and he has been accused of serving as a media liaison for jihadist causes.

He also contributed to other outlets and authored books on militant Islam, further cementing his expertise in the field. However, during the Assad era, Zidan was considered a wanted figure in Syria for his alleged support of terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Ties to Jihadists and Osama bin Laden

Zidan's connections to extremist networks have been well-documented and scrutinized by intelligence agencies. Declassified documents from the 2011 U.S. raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, revealed Zidan's name in al-Qaeda's internal communications, portraying him as a trusted contact who facilitated interviews and potentially relayed messages. U.S. intelligence reportedly flagged him as a potential al-Qaeda operative or courier, with some reports suggesting he was added to a CIA drone strike target list in 2015 (though he denied this and sued the U.S. government over it). He has also been linked to other al-Qaeda figures, such as Saif al-Adel (a senior leader), and accused of promoting jihadist propaganda through his journalism.

In a 2021 FRONTLINE documentary, "In Search of Al Qaeda," Zidan's interactions with terroiristwere highlighted, showing his deep embedding in these circles post-9/11. Critics, including U.S. officials and anti-extremism activists, have described him as one of bin Laden's "closest aides" or "allies," though Zidan has maintained that his contacts were purely journalistic.

The Appointment and Its Implications

Announced this week, Zidan's role in al-Sharaa's administration is part of a series of appointments aimed at consolidating power during Syria's transitional phase. Al-Sharaa, who has rebranded himself from a U.S.-designated terrorist to a "moderate" figure, is navigating complex geopolitics, including outreach to Western powers like the U.S. (notably praised by former President Trump). Zidan's expertise in media could help craft a narrative of reform, but his history undermines efforts to distance the regime from extremism.

Reactions have been sharply critical. Observers on social media and in analyses describe it as "alarming," warning it signals a "repackaged jihadist" regime and risks turning Syria into an "Islamic emirate" akin to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Some tie it to broader concerns about HTS's Islamist appointees, potentially complicating U.S. and EU engagement. As of now, no official response from Zidan's office or al-Sharaa's administration has addressed the backlash, and details on his exact duties remain sparse. This appointment demonstrates the challenges in Syria's post-Assad era, where former terrorists are "repurposing" themselves for governance amid global scrutiny. More likely though, they are who they always were, terrorists at heart, the only difference being that they now wear suits.