It is astonishing to see French President Emmanuel Macron, with, or without sunglasses, sitting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Jihadist Joulani, as though he were a legitimate statesman rather than a man whose forces are accused of brutal abuses across Syria.

While Macron meets him in Damascus, Alawites and Druze are being massacred, members of minority communities are being abducted, and Christians continue to suffer harassment because of their faith.

Syria is becoming a country that slaughters its minorities while receiving applause from much of the international community.