DAMASCUS,— After more than a decade of brutal civil war, many hoped Syria’s transition would lead to a more inclusive, stable, and modern government.
However, under the leadership of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa—also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani—Syria is heading down a far more alarming path.
Al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaeda and founded al-Nusra Front (now rebranded as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, HTS), now leads a government supported by Islamist factions. His leadership marks the rise of a hardline, theocratic rule that is stripping away the freedoms that once defined Syria.
The current regime publicly claims to embrace “multiculturalism,” but its actions tell a very different story. What is unfolding in Syria is not a transition to democracy, but a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in favor of an authoritarian and deeply conservative Islamic state.
Gender Segregation at Al Mouwasat University Hospital
A leaked document obtained by iKurd.net exposed one of the most blatant examples of this hardline shift: a directive from Al Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, that enforces strict gender segregation for employees. According to the document, men are to sit in the front seats, while women must sit in the back, regardless of their job title or role in the institution.
“Men in the front seats, women in the back seats, regardless of their job title.”
“الرجال في المقاعد الأمامية، النساء في المقاعد الخلفية، مهما كانت صفتهم الوظيفية.”
This policy is a stark example of how Islamically-driven governance has begun to impose rigid, oppressive social rules, undermining professionalism and treating women as second-class citizens in their own workplaces. What was once a neutral, professional environment is now a tool for reinforcing outdated religious norms that restrict basic freedoms.
Government Messaging Against Social Freedoms
The government’s actions aren’t limited to institutional policies. Public messaging is increasingly dominated by rigid, authoritarian messages that dictate personal behavior. A government-backed poster now widely displayed in public areas reads:
“I do not shake hands with women.”
“إني لا أصافح النساء”
This simple act—shaking hands—once a routine and culturally neutral gesture of social interaction, is now framed as a sin in the eyes of the regime. The poster’s message is clear: men are forbidden from shaking hands with women unless they are immediate family members. It states:
“A man who believes in God and His Messenger should not shake hands with a woman who is not lawful for him. Whoever does so has wronged himself.”
“لا يحل لرجل يؤمن بالله ورسوله أن يضع يده في يد امرأة لا تحل له أو ليست من محارمه، ومن فعل ذلك فقد ظلم نفسه.”
These posters reflect an escalating campaign to police personal interactions and social norms, enforcing religious rules that severely limit personal freedom. By codifying this behavior, the government is forcing its interpretation of Islam into the public sphere, limiting basic human connections and enforcing gender segregation across society.
In January 2025, this cultural and religious sensitivity was underscored when al-Sharaa himself declined to shake hands with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a diplomatic meeting.
This public refusal to engage in a common international gesture further illustrates the regime’s rigid stance on gender roles and reinforces its rejection of Western norms, showing how far-reaching the government’s policy is—both domestically and on the international stage.
A Nation Under Theocratic Rule
The shift toward theocratic governance in Syria is not just about promoting religion—it’s about using religion as a tool for control.
The freedom of individuals, especially women, is being stripped away in favor of rigid, religiously prescribed norms. Women are increasingly relegated to the margins of society, unable to participate freely in the workforce or in social life without facing systemic discrimination. Minorities—religious, ethnic, or political—are being silenced, as the government enforces one narrow version of morality.
Under such a regime, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and even the right to choose one’s own path in life are all under attack. The heavy-handed nature of this rule seeks to control every aspect of life, from what individuals can say to whom they can interact with.
This is not a government that aims to foster inclusivity or diversity; it is one that seeks to crush it. As Syria moves closer to this theocratic rule, the very essence of its identity as a diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nation is being erased. What was once a society where people of different faiths and backgrounds coexisted is being transformed into a monolithic state, dictated by one interpretation of Islam, leaving no room for the freedoms that once defined the country.
The Price of Religious Rule
If this trend continues unchecked, Syria faces a future where freedom and individuality are nothing more than distant memories. The hardline, theocratic rule now being imposed by the interim government threatens to reshape the nation in its image: one defined by religious conformity, rigid gender roles, and the eradication of personal freedom. Syria’s hope for a democratic, inclusive future may soon be a thing of the past, replaced by a state where religious control dominates every aspect of daily life.
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