The Story Meet Britain’s most charming ‘national security threat’
Nov 19, 2025
In this conversation, Anthony Loyd, a Special Correspondent for The Times with deep experience in Syria, and Takir Sharif, a British aid worker stripped of his citizenship, dive into the complexities of Syria’s shifting political landscape. They discuss the implications of the West’s new stance on former terrorist groups, Takir’s harrowing experiences, and his struggle to operate independently in a war zone. Takir shares his emotional response to losing his citizenship and the broader repercussions for others caught in legal limbo due to changing policies.
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Former Jihadi Now A Welcomed Statesman
- Ahmed al-Sharar (formerly al-Julani) transitioned from jihadi commander to Syria's president and diplomatic interlocutor.
- Western countries now engage him despite his violent past, revealing pragmatic foreign-policy shifts.
De‑Listing Shifts Diplomatic Reality
- The US and then the UK removed HTS from terrorist lists after HTS gained power in Syria.
- De-prescription enabled diplomatic engagement and changed legal status for many associated people.
British Aid Worker Who Stayed In Syria
- Takir Sharif left the UK in 2012 and remained in northern Syria running humanitarian work and camps.
- He established ICRA, serving thousands with shelters, education, and trauma therapies.