Muhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, told Noon Post that this represents “a shared interest and an additional link between the regime and these individuals, which opens a new door for corruption,” stressing that granting these leaders immunity for four years provides them with protection from illicit gains, from which security agency leaders will also benefit.

AlMustafa considered that militia leaders are seeking to expand their roles and increase their influence to new levels within civil institutions, after their roles were deeper in the military and security domains. He emphasized that these positions are “an opportunity to broaden their networks and connections, and thus their ability to continue either through armed force in the past, or now through official office.”

He added that after amassing huge sums of money through shabbiha practices, “tarfiq” (militia members escorting commercial trucks to impose levies under the pretext of protecting them from terrorists), blackmail, and other activities, these individuals now aspire to higher social status derived from official positions. Moreover, the regime could not find better representatives than them, especially since most are members of the Baath Party, according to AlMustafa.