Official Declaration of SHINE Institute for Strategic Empowerment (USA) Regarding HTS Forcible Closure and Gag Order against SHINE in Idlib

SHINE

SHINE

THINK INSTITUTE FORSTRATEGIEMPOWERMENT

SHINE Institute for Strategic Empowerment (USA)

Board of Directors

Re: Idlib Branch, NW Syria

Official Declaration

HTS Forcible Closure and Gag Order against SHINE in Idlib

The Board of Directors of SHINE regret to announce that on March 9, 2021, the Salvation Government of Hayat

Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) threatened our staff's safety and forcibly closed our facilities in Idlib city using the pretext

of a fabricated and malicious report about SHINE's activities on International Women's Day. In addition to Hayat

Tahrir al-Sham's repeated acts of aggression, intimidation, and terrorism against civil society, the Salvation

Government continues to restrain freedom of speech and opinion even in educational institutions that aim to

empower women and provide free educational services to hundreds of students monthly. We therefore

regretfully announce the cessation of our services in Idlib, northwest Syria and hold HTS and its Salvation

Government fully responsible for the safety and security of former employees of the SHINE Idlib branch who

were forced to resign out of fear of HTS persecution.

SHINE pledges to continue providing services in all other Syrian regions and to cooperate with all Syrian,

regional, and international parties working to reform Syrian society and help it progress toward empowerment

and peace. SHINE will return to provide services in Idlib when the following conditions are met:

-The cessation of all abuses and violations of human and civil rights, including the freedom of public

expression and public assembly.

- Implementation of legitimate democratic governance that respects and guarantees the security, safety,

and rights of all citizens.

-The lifting of the security and administrative hegemony exercised over local, regional, and international

organizations by HTS.

-The creation of transparent mechanisms to motivate and ensure the return of international donations to

Idlib.

Rania Kisar

Executive Director

Washington DC, USA

Rania Kisa

SHINE has spent the last six years developing and empowering civil society leaders in many Syrian regions,

including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Damascus, and Daraa. The Syrian people are more than ready to take control of

their own democratic destiny and establish the free and just society they deserve. We stand firm in the belief

that inevitable change in Syria is already underway. The Syrian people will never be humiliated, defeated, or

oppressed again.