""Syria...will be an Islamic and Sharia state and we will not accept
anything else. Democracy and secularism are completely rejected," said the
fighter, who called himself Khattab. Sporting a shaggy beard and with an AK-47
slung over his shoulder, he warned anyone who might stand in the way. "We will
fight them, even if they are among the revolutionaries or anyone else," said
Khattab, who left his job as a driver to fight for two years in Afghanistan
before moving to Syria six months ago.
"All this talk about freedom, democracy and the secular state and a state
of open freedoms like America and the European system - Islamists do not care
about this talk at all," said 25-year-old Abu Muawiyah, a skinny fighter who
said he was from the Aleppo countryside and translated for the foreigners.
"There are some fighting factions like the Free Syrian Army, who have links to
other countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and these countries have
links with the controlling pole, which is the United States," he said.
At least some people in Aleppo seem willing to tolerate even gruesome
retribution by the jihadists. "Yes, they have the sword and beheading, but only
for those people who deserve it," said Hadi, a bearded rebel who spoke in the
corridor of a bombed-out building that served as a gateway to a frontline." (thanks Basim)
