RAMA HALAF

Damascus- Since the fall of the Assad regime and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group, took control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, the city has witnessed many political and social changes. However, the situation of women demanding freedom and justice have faced new challenges regarding their role in building a new Syria. At every opportunity, the Syrian women express their concern about their future and status in the new Syria due to uncertainties.

“We have not witnessed any developments in favor of women since the fall of the Assad regime. We do not know if the situation of women will be good or bad,” said Heba Ali Jindo, one woman living in Damascus. “Recently, we have witnessed that the members of HTS have scolded women and girls for not wearing headscarves. Following the fall of the Assad regime, we turned up the music to celebrate it; however, the members of HTS arrived and asked us to lower the volume. There is a great fear among women about their status and political rights. The oppressive practices of HTS against women and different ethnic groups are called 'individual practices'. This situation has led to humiliation and division among sects that could lead to a new civil war.”

“Since the fall of the Assad regime and the HTS takeover of Damascus, we have noticed many changes,” said Alaa Abdullah Hamdan, another woman living in Damascus. “We have been freed from the tyranny of the Assad regime. During the rule of the Assad regime, people faced many forms of persecution. However, we have noticed nothing about the role of women in the new Syria.”

Women play important roles all around the world, Alaa Abdullah Hamdan told us. “Syrian women must play important roles in the new Syria. Women must participate in decision-making positions to have a Syria based on democracy and equality. When Aisha Al-Debs was appointed as the head of the Women's Affairs Office, we thought that it was a good step; however, her speeches raise our concerns, making us feel unsafe. Following the fall of the Assad regime, many were optimistic but now they are pessimistic due to the inconsistency among the decisions made by Syria's interim administration. The new government raises concerns about women’s participation in politics, decision-making positions and social life.”