• Country/entity

  Syria
  

• Region

  Middle East and North Africa
  

• Agreement name

  Statement by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham on Ceasefire in Kansafra

• Date

  8 Oct 2016

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )

• Stage

  Ceasefire/related

• Conflict nature

  Inter-group

• Peace process

  Syrian Local Agreements

• Parties

  Kansafra Council;
  The Dawah Council in Kansafra;
  Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in Kansafra (Abu Jassim and Abu Ishaq)

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  Statement by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS) on the ceasefire between Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham in Kansafra pledging to do their part in helping. Main points are: (1) a prohibition among JFS on hostilities against other mujahideen; and (2) prohibition on checkpoints.

• Agreement document

  SY_161008_Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in Kansafra_EN.pdf | Download PDF

• Agreement document (original language)

  SY_161008_Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in Kansafra_AR.pdf | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

• Process type

  Isolated example
  

• Rationale

  -> Local issues only; external support mechanism; no culture of signing The agreement is a call for peace among Jihadi groups and is related to the protection of jihadists in the village of Kansafra. It is highly localised and was not supported by any formally established mechanism. Neither the issue at stake nor the signing of agreements seems persistent in this instance, suggesting that there is no culture of peace process.

• 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. Although two of the signing parties are local governance actors; the third party is a Salafi-Jihadi group that rejects the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power.

• Name of Locale

  Kansafra

• Nature Of Locale

  City

• GPS Lat/Long (DD)

  35.667498, 36.486457

• Participant type

  Local state actor
  Local armed group
  Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
  

• Mediator, facilitator or similar

  No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

The People of Kansafra

Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in Kansafra

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Allah (SWT) says:

“And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two.

But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah.

And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly.

Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (

Quran 49:9)

It is sad to watch our brothers the mujahideen from Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham fighting and shedding each other’s blood, which is forbidden.

Based on what Allah has said, and His order to his servants to help other believers who are fighting amongst themselves reach a solution and rule between them with justice, as well as to preserve the blood of our people and our brothers, we, the people of the village of Kansafra in general, and specifically the mujahideen from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, will not allow anyone, no matter which group they are affiliated with from among our brothers the mujahideen, to attack any of the other mujahideen in the village.

We will also not allow checkpoints or barriers to be set up in the village or on its roads.

These rules apply to everyone, whether they are from the village or outside of it, and we will not allow anyone, no matter who they are affiliated with or where they are going, to enter the village or pass through it.

We hope that anyone who believes that they have been wronged and are in the right will go to the Shariah judiciary to get their rights back, and we have, all praise be to Allah, knowledgeable people who can help us not need to take these actions.

Allah says:

“And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day.

That is the best [way] and best in result.” (

Quran 4:59)

We call upon our brothers in all of the liberated cities and villages to stand between these brothers and to stop them from killing each other.

This is a part of the implementation of Allah’s laws, and stopping the shed of protected blood is a necessary responsibility.

Everyone needs to plan on going back to the Shariah courts to get their rights and address the violations against them.

Kansafra Council

The Dawah Council in Kansafra

Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in Kansafra – Abu Jassim and Abu Ishaq

All Praises be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds