Syria Diaries: Jabhat al-Nusra, Beards, and Smoking: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Syrian People

Abu Jood, a former electrician and now member of Jabhat al-Nusra, on patrol in the town of Mayer in the
Aleppo countryside, March 2013.

Sitting at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the village of Mayer in the Aleppo countryside, Abu Jood, a former electrician who fought with the Free Syrian Army before joining the Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra, sports a camo baseball cap, finely coiffured salafi beard, and an all in one blue NIKE tracksuit. Abu Jood decided to join the Nusra Front due to what he perceived as a higher ethical standard within the group - something for which Nusra are also admired for amongst many of the inhabitants of the Aleppo countryside.

"When the war started people began growing beards," says Abu Jood surveying the damage wreaked by a recent government aerial bombardment off Mayer's main thoroughfare.  "Increasingly people are wearing beards. It is a sign of piety."

"But it is not neccesary to have a beard to join Jabhat al-Nusra," he remarks casually before lighting up a cigarette, in clear breach of Nusra ethical principles.

"Today, it’s my day-off. Its normal. I am going to smoke. Of course when I am with my brigade I don't smoke."

The growing influence of beards in the Syrian opposition since the beginning of 2013 has been interpreted by many critics as a principle factor in the international communities hesitancy to supply armed aid to support the insurgency against embattled Alawite President Bashar al-Assad. Mainly focused in the Aleppo province there have been growing reports in the international media that beards have now become a "national phenomenon" in the Syrian opposition. Reports that sync with the Assad regime's vilification of the FSA in the media as a terrorist organization bent on establishing a caliphate based on the principle of a homogenized beard culture.

In the Aleppo countryside not only has wearing beards become increasingly prevalent. Displaying beards on mobile phones has also become an established culture.

Shaab, a former clothes retailer whose shop was destroyed by government shelling displays an image of his
former beard on his mobile phone. March 2013.

Sitting in his family home in the border town of Azaz - Shaab a former clothes retailer, proudly displays his former beard on his mobile-phone.

"When the regime troops started fighting the FSA here in Azaz I didn't know what to do," says Shaab - a non- combatant whose younger brother fights with the FSA in Aleppo. 

"I remember I grabbed the shotgun we used to use to shoot pigeons...After that we sold my brother's car to buy some weapons."

Shaab intimates that whilst at times he yearns for his beard, he has no regrets regarding his decision to discontinue wearing it.

 "Sometimes I miss my beard, but it didn't suit me. I liked growing it when the revolution started but it is better without it," says Shaab, his eyes fixated on the screen of his phone. 

Shaab intimates that his growth of a beard had little to do with an increase in faith brought on by Syria's civil conflict. Pointing to yet another still of his former beard on his mobile phone, he jokes.

"Look. Jabhat al Nusra." It is a fairly common joke.

"According to Jabhat my jeans are haram, my red jumper, the gell in my hair, this cigarette in my hand, this music," he says before querying with himself as to whether there is in fact a Christian brigade within the notorious Jihadist group.

"No, I think they are just European," he decides after a 30-second pause.

If I want I can still look at it (his beard) - on my phone, on Facebook." 

Abu Jood (far left) with other members of his brigade in the Sakhur neighbourhood of,Aleppo, March 2013.

 In the Sakhur neighbourhood of Aleppo, Abu Assir a member of the Ahrar al Sham brigade of the FSA stands with others from his brigade. He is the only one of five sporting a beard, others in the group prefer moustaches. Assir explains that with ongoing clashes and aerial bombardment beards are not a priority for all.

"You can't go down this street. We call it the Street of Death. There is an Iranian sniper there. You kill one sniper, another 10 will come," says Abu Assir walking away from the Street of Death on to safer ground.

"In a true Salafist beard you shave the moustache, shorter than the beard," he explains drawing an example diagram for BEIRUTSTATEofMIND. It is not unlike his own.

Back in Azaz, mobile phone images of beards are once again on display.

"What's the difference between a protest and a strike?" asks Amr, sidetracking BEIRUTSTATEofMIND's attempts to explain the concept of "Movember", as he leafs through a dual English-Arabic dictionary.

Amr fought with the FSA in Aleppo province for six months. After two of his friends and fellow comrades were killed in combat, the former English major, returned to civilian life. He know works in the Azaz Press Office. He too is keen to scroll through an assortment of photos on his mobile phone of his time wearing a beard with the FSA.

"Alot of people grow beards, it’s like a fashion," he says as a group of his friends gather. "Not everyone who wears a beard is a Salafist or even that religious. It is just what people do."

Abu Assir, drawing an archetypal Salafist beard.
Aleppo, March 2013.

In the small Sunni town of Bayanun, 15km from Aleppo, talk is not always light-hearted when it comes to beards. Some people take beards very seriously. Amongst them is Hulal, a member of the Ansar brigade of the Free Syrian Army. 

"There will be no implementation of homogeneity in the nation's beard culture once Assad falls. These are merely rumours the regime spreads to scare the people," states Hulal, owner of a fine moustache-less beard replete with a light smattering of henna."Some (in the FSA) have strict principles but they will respect others."

"There are many people with moustaches in the Free Syrian Army," he concludes before departing.

As the Syrian Civil War continues unabated thoughts have turned towards the potential power struggles that could take place in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. In Aleppo province, the growing prominence of beards both in the armed opposition and in popular mobile culture may be interpreted by some as a worrying development in the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the Syrian people, perhaps regardless of the motives of many of the wearers.

Back in Mayer, sunset is beginning to fall. A couple of members of the local FSA brigade finish their shift, and head home as others arrive to replace them. Abu Jood, shifts from one foot to another, searching in his pocket before pulling out another cigarette.

"I want to smoke the pack because I am joining Nusra again tomorrow," he offers nonchalantly before saying his peace. 

A member of a local  FSA unit takes a break in Bayanun, March 2013.