The new government in Syria, led by Islamist militants, poses a serious threat to women’s rights, undermining their future and freedom.
As the international community celebrates the downfall of another dictatorship following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, the future of women’s rights in the country remains uncertain.
The armed Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmad Shar’ah, successfully ousted Assad’s forces, but their rise to power has sparked serious concerns about the protection of women’s rights in the region. Although HTS and its leader claim to be moderate, their treatment of women paints a much darker picture.
The group enforces stringent laws based on their interpretation of Islamic law, severely restricting women’s mobility, attire, and participation in public life. These laws, initially implemented in Idlib, are rapidly spreading to other major cities in Syria, tightening control over women’s freedoms across the country.
In particular, the group’s policies mandate that women adhere to strict dress codes, including wearing the niqab, and limit their ability to work or engage in public spaces without male guardianship. This conservative approach is being enforced through violence and intimidation, with women facing significant social, legal, and physical consequences if they defy these rules.
The international community has raised alarms about the ongoing suppression of women under the new regime, which threatens to reverse years of progress made by women in the region. Throughout Syria’s 13-year-long conflict, women have been crucial pillars of their communities, stepping in to provide support and leadership while many men were off fighting.
However, despite their essential roles, women have been systematically excluded from peace negotiations, sidelining their voices in shaping the country’s future. As Syria moves forward from the ashes of the Assad regime, the question remains whether the new government will allow women to play an active role in the country’s rebuilding process or continue to suppress their basic rights.
The future of Syrian women depends on their ability to have a voice in the political landscape—a right they have long been denied, despite their central role in the ongoing struggle for peace and stability. The situation in Syria stands as a stark reminder that while political change may occur, the fight for women’s rights remains as urgent as ever.
The treatment of women under HTS is not just a threat to their rights but a threat to the entire country’s future, as true peace and progress cannot be achieved without the equal participation of women in all aspects of society.
Womensagenda