As Syria Tries to Move Away From Dictatorship, Signs of Authoritarianism Linger NYT | Top Stories By: Raja Abdulrahim 7 September 2025 at 17:00 The ex-rebels now in control of Syria say they are ending rule by fear, overhauling the security and prison systems, and holding elections. But concerns over sectarianism and inclusivity remain. © David Guttenfelder/The New York TimesA former intelligence service office in January in Sweida, Syria, with a defaced portrait of Bashar al-Assad.