It was only a matter of time. A directive recently issued by local authorities in Latakia, in western Syriabanning female public sector employees from wearing makeup in the workplace, sparked a wave of indignation in the country.
This measure is perceived by many Syrians as the symbol of a double movement: on the one hand, a questioning of the tolerance with regard to certain moral freedoms, particularly for women, which prevailed under Bashar al-Assadand on the other hand, the gradual establishment of a new social and religious order imposed by a regime close to the radical Islamist movement.
An outcry on Syrian social networks
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, the Islamist forces in power have said they do not want to intervene directly in the private lives of citizens. However, a series of measures, sometimes surprising in their precision and intrusive nature, tends to worry part of the population, who now fear that freedom of choice and rights acquired under the old regime will be called into question. For many observers, these decisions illustrate a broader strategy aimed at imposing strict religious dogma on all of Syrian society.
The controversy gained momentum when internet users shared an official circular from Latakia provincial authorities on social media. This ordered local administrations to ensure that “female employees refrain from wearing makeup during working hours”under penalty of disciplinary sanctions. The affair quickly sparked outraged reactions, particularly from activists and women’s rights defenders. On Facebook, a user denounced this decision, ironically questioning: “Under what law and what article? » She added: “You guys are so ridiculous it’s almost sad. »
Faced with the controversy, the Latakia authorities tried to downplay the affair. In an official statement, they affirmed that the measure “was not intended to limit individual freedoms”, but only to “regulate professional appearance and avoid excessive use of cosmetics”. A justification which did not convince the local population. “Have Latakia’s problems all been resolved to the point where only women’s makeup is left to deal with? »quipped an Internet user, highlighting the perceived inconsistency between the scale of the social issues and the symbolic significance of this measure.
Burkini on the beaches
The fact that this directive comes from Latakia is not insignificant. Historical stronghold of the Alawite minority and region of origin of Bashar al-Assad, the province has been the scene of major violence in recent months. Last March, several hundred people, mainly Alawites, lost their lives during sectarian massacres which deeply affected the local community.
Since then, residents and human rights organizations have reported kidnappings, targeted killings and other serious violations, which have fueled distrust of the new authorities. The international community continues to call on Damascus to guarantee the fundamental rights of citizens, protect minorities and ensure the safety of women, but the signals sent by recent directives give little reason to hope for effective compliance with these recommendations.
Beyond Latakia, the Syrian population is observing with concern a series of recent measures which illustrate the ideological hardening of the regime. In the town of Al-Tal, near Damascus, a ruling banned men from working in women’s clothing stores, while last year the wearing of cover-up swimsuits was enforced on all public beaches. At the same time, the deadly attack on a nightclub in the capital in May reinforced the perception of an increasingly restrictive and monitored environment.
A notable similarity with the Taliban
This orientation highlights notable similarities with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. This ideological proximity is not purely theoretical: in 2021, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, now influential in Syria, publicly congratulated the Taliban when they took power in Afghanistan. The two movements also share striking visual symbols, flying a white flag bearing the shahadathe Muslim inscription affirming the oneness of God and the prophetic mission of Muhammad.
The Taliban’s ideology is based on a rigorous and conservative interpretation of Sharia law, strictly applied in all aspects of public and private life. Under their regime, Afghan women are excluded from many educational and professional spaces, forced to follow a strict dress code and deprived of basic freedoms, illustrating the type of ultra-conservative society that groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seem to aspire to for Syria.
These policies, if they multiply, risk reinforcing the marginalization of women, accentuating community tensions and fueling a climate of fear within the population. In the absence of solid guarantees in terms of rights and freedoms, Syria seems engaged in a trajectory where religion and political power mix to redefine, in a restrictive manner, social life. Citizens, faced with this new reality, are concerned about the future of individual rights and the capacity of Syrian society to maintain a balance between religious traditions and fundamental freedoms.
