Usáma Rifai

Usáma Rifai is a prominent Syrian cleric known for his moderate stance and opposition to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. After publicly denouncing Assad during the early protests in Syria in 2011, he faced severe repercussions, leading to a violent crackdown on his mosque and ultimately forcing him to flee to Istanbul. There, he served as the head of an Islamic council established for Syrians opposing the Assad regime. In a significant political shift following the overthrow of Assad in 2024, Rifai was appointed as the Grand Mufti of Syria by the interim president Ahmad Shara, marking a return to an influential religious position that had been abolished under Assad's rule.