Syria's new leader sparks debate with handshake snub to German FM

In a recent analysis, Politico unveils that the subtle significant political gestures made by leaders continue raising important questions about their true intentions and ideological leanings. 

A handshake can convey a lot, and so can the lack of one.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, those opposed to lockdowns or frustrated by the recommendation to forgo traditional customs often used forceful handshakes as a sign of defiance. 

So, what can we infer from Syrian leader Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a’s refusal to shake hands with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock upon her arrival in Damascus, alongside French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot? 

Their visit to Syria, marking the first trip by high-ranking European diplomats in years, was part of an EU initiative to promote a peaceful and inclusive transition of power. France and Germany have been more proactive in engaging with Syria's opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist insurgent faction that recently entered Damascus, effectively ending the Assad regime's 54-year rule.

Other Western nations have taken a more cautious approach as they try to piece together the puzzle of Syria’s new de facto leader and the intentions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regarding Syria’s future. 

Up to this point, Shar’a has spoken about pluralism and his desire for inclusivity, but his refusal to shake hands with Baerbock has raised concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of women in post-Assad Syria. 

Shar’a, who previously swore allegiance to al-Qaeda and fought against Western forces in Iraq, recently abandoned his alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani. He broke with al-Qaeda in 2016 and has since attempted to distance himself from his extremist past.

However, his decision to withhold a handshake speaks volumes about where Shar’a may lie on the spectrum of radical political Islam, and it also highlights the limits of his recent efforts to modernize. It could suggest the constraints he must adhere to in order to keep his Islamist fighters loyal.

Baerbock, for her part, downplayed the incident, telling reporters, "As I traveled here, it was clear to me that there would obviously be no ordinary handshakes."

However, based on years of covering political Islam and observing how radical Islamists (or jihadists) behave when claiming moderation, this columnist finds that a refusal to engage, make eye contact, or shake hands with women often signals a lack of genuine inclusivity.

Beyond signaling how genuinely moderate someone has become, a handshake — or the refusal to offer one — can reveal much about a leader's willingness to be pragmatic.

While many conservative Muslims hold the belief that unrelated men and women should never touch, exceptions have occasionally been made. For instance, when engaging in diplomacy, a handshake — the standard greeting among global politicians and businessmen — has been embraced by traditional Saudi and Emirati rulers. In 1987, Saudi King Fahd had no reservations about shaking hands with then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, recognizing that the gesture symbolized trust, or at the very least, a readiness to engage.

By Naila Huseynova