Untitled Agreement [between al-Nusra Front and Free Syrian Army, Mara al-Hurma, Idlib]

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Untitled Agreement [between al-Nusra Front and Free Syrian Army, Mara al-Hurma, Idlib]
  • Date
    11 Oct 2014
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    Abu Abdullah Toum, Jabhat Al Nusrah [Signed]
    Lt. Col. Gamil Raduon, Free Syrian Army [Signed]
    [illegible third conflict actor]
  • Third parties
    The agreement was signed in the presence of:
    Abu Bakr / Ahrar Al Sham: Commander of the Ahl Al Bayt Brigade [Signed]
    Abu Al Bara’a [illegible] [Signed]
    Sheikh Abu [illegible], Jabhat Al Nusrah [Signed]
    Sheikh Abu Al Nasr [illegible] [Signed]
  • Description
    Short agreement agreeing that the Sharia board shall implement the agreement which includes prisoner release, removing 'accidents'[?] related to the incident, ending the state of emergency between the two sides and redirecting fighters to the front lines.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    -> Local issues only; external support mechanism; culture of signing A formally-established mechanism apparently supported the negotiation between the signing groups, as the negotiation was signed by several witnesse. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. First, the agreement does not involve local governance actors; and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Second, all parties to the agreement reject the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power.
  • Name of Locale
    Mara al-Hurma, Idlib governorate
  • Nature Of Locale
    City
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    35.550139, 36.541128
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

    Page 1, Allah says: “But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.”

    Page 1, In adherence to Allah’s orders, we, the Free Syrian Army in the northern Hama countryside from the southern Idlib countryside and Jabhat Al Nusra announce the following:

    Page 1, 1, Both sides shall submit to Allah’s laws, to be implemented by an independent Shariah committee that is agreed upon by both sides

    Page 1, Allah is the arbiter of success
  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists four provisions to address local grievances.

    Page 1,
    1. Both sides shall submit to Allah’s laws, to be implemented by an independent Shariah committee that is agreed upon by both sides
    2. All detainees from both sides shall be immediately released
    3. Removing all of the accidents relating to the incident by both sides
    4. Ending the state of preparedness and both sides sending more fighters to the frontlines
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Allah says:

“But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.”

In adherence to Allah’s orders, we, the Free Syrian Army in the northern Hama countryside from the southern Idlib countryside and Jabhat Al Nusra announce the following:

Both sides shall submit to Allah’s laws, to be implemented by an independent Shariah committee that is agreed upon by both sides

All detainees from both sides shall be immediately released

Removing all of the accidents relating to the incident by both sides

Ending the state of preparedness and both sides sending more fighters to the frontlines

Allah is the arbiter of success

The agreement was signed in the presence of:

Abu Bakr / Ahrar Al Sham

Commander of the Ahl Al Bayt Brigade

[Signed]

Abu Al Bara’a

[ILLEGIBLE]

[Signed]

Sheikh Abu [ILLEGIBLE]

Jabhat Al Nusrah

[Signed]

Sheikh Abu Al Nasr

[ILLEGIBLE]

[Signed]

Representatives of the parties to the conflict:

Abu Abdullah Toum

Jabhat Al Nusrah

[Signed]

[ILLEGIBLE]

Lt. Col.

Gamil Raduon

Free Syrian Army

[Signed]