There are many differences between Syria and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has said.

In an interview with the BBC in Damascus, Sharaa denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan.

Sharaa said the countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mindset.

“Afghanistan is a tribal community. Syria is completely different. The people just don’t think in the same way. The Syrian government and the ruling system will be in line with Syria’s history and culture,” he said.

He said he believed in education for women.

“When it comes to women’s education, of course. We have had universities in Idlib for more than eight years. I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60 percent.

“We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,” Sharaa said, referring to Syria’s north-western province that has been held by rebels since 2011.

“I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%.”

Asked whether the consumption of alcohol would be allowed, Sharaa said: “There are many things I just don’t have the right to talk about because they are legal issues.”

He added that there would be a “Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law”.

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on Ahmad al-Sharaa’s remarks on Afghanistan.

The remarks come as girls above the sixth grade have been denied the right to education for more than three years and universities are also closed to women.

Reports suggest that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate has also recently decided to close medical institutes to girls.