Syria’s New FM: We stand with women and will defend their rights

Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, the new Syrian Foreign Minister, wrote in a message on X/Twitter that the country’s officials will stand alongside women and fully defend their rights. He added, “We believe in the active role of women in society and trust in their capabilities.”

This comes at a time when hundreds of Syrian citizens gathered in central Damascus on Thursday, December 29, to demand the establishment of democracy and the guarantee of women’s rights in the country.

Both women and men present at the demonstration chanted slogans such as “We want democracy, not a religious government,” “Syria is free and civil,” and “The Syrian nation is one.”

Some of the protesters were also holding placards that read, “There is no free nation without free women.”

Opposition groups to Bashar al-Assad, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, managed to end five decades of Assad family rule in Syria by taking control of Damascus on December 18.

Following this, the interim Syrian government appointed Aisha al-Dabbas as the head of the Office of Women’s Affairs in the country. Aisha al-Dabbas is the first woman to hold an official position in the new Syrian government under the leadership of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The appointment of Aisha al-Dabbas and the growing calls for women’s rights reflect a shift in Syria’s political landscape, where voices demanding democratic reform and gender equality are becoming more prominent. As the country navigates a new era, the inclusion of women in leadership roles could be an essential step toward broader societal change.

However, challenges remain, particularly given the complexities of Syria’s ongoing conflict and the political influence of Islamist factions. The future of women’s rights in Syria will depend on the government’s ability to balance political power, regional influences, and the demands of its citizens for a more inclusive and democratic society.

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