Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new leader and head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, sparked debate after asking a woman to cover her hair before a photo. The incident highlights the tension between liberal societal expectations and Islamist hardliner demands, raising concerns over potential conservative policies in Syria’s future. As HTS faces scrutiny from both the international community and Islamist factions, finding a balance between these competing pressures is crucial for its legitimacy.