The previous Syrian government treated all citizens equally as it was a secular state.
The previous govt was secular. Now it's governed by an Islamic state. That's their claim.
Only a physically and mentally fit non Muslim of military age would have to pay the jizya.
Women, children, elderly don't have to.
In return, they get social protection, no other taxes, free to live and do business. Free to practice their religion. Legal protection. And the best part? No military duties for all non Muslim of military age who pays the jizya. So if there is a war, only Muslims go to war. Non Muslims stay back and we, Muslim, will protect them.
Compare that to the obligations of a Muslim. We mandatory pay the zakat which is 2.5% yearly of our assets. If there is war, we have to fight.
And how much is the jizya? Many multiple times lower than the zakat.
That is why in Andalus Spain, when the cat-alcoholics took over from the muslims, the Jews preferred to follow the Muslims back to Africa. Otherwise Jews would have been wiped out!