"They insisted that they wanted only a “pure” Islam, not a Taliban-style
government, to replace the Assad family’s regime, which has ruled Syria
since 1971. But they offered examples of purity that sounded
Talibanesque: Women must cover their entire bodies. Everyone must pray
five times a day. Dancing should be prohibited. Differing
interpretations of Islam would be tolerated, they say, as long as those
beliefs remained “a secret” — a kind of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy."