What Next For Women In Syria?
It was well-known that Bashar al-Assad’s regime was cruel and despotic and now the atrocities that have come to light make it very clear that Assad was even more cruel than what people outside Syria knew. However, the Assads, father and son, were relatively secular and did not deny women in Syria basic freedoms, such as the freedom to wear attire of their choice or to work outside their households.
When the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan a few years ago, women were suddenly in a very dark place. Will the same happen in Syria? Hopefully, No.
Just a day after capturing Syria’s capital Dec. 8, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) felt compelled to issue a rule for its fighters: Do not interfere with “the right” of women “to choose their attire or appearance.” Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who leads the recently infiltrated militant faction in Damascus, has boldly severed his deep-rooted ties withal-Qaida. He now portrays himself as a proponent of diversity and tolerance. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the 42-year-old leader of the insurgent group that forced Syrian President Bashar Assad out of the country and ended his regime, is said to have worked for years to distance himself from his extremist past and present a more moderate face to the world.
Known for his role in Syria’s ongoing civil war, al-Golani has transformed from a jihadist figure linked to terror outfit al-Qaida to a leader advocating for pluralism and state-building. Signaling his efforts to secure an orderly transition, he declared Syrian state institutions would remain under the supervision of the Assad-appointed prime minister until a handover.
I’m holding my breath. Dear Syrian sisters, I pray for you. Stay strong and may you remain free and offer a beacon of hope to other women in the middle-east.
Picture credit: Al Arabiya.
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