SORGÜL ŞÊXO

 Til Temir (Tell Tamer)- Syria has been suffering from a crisis since 2011 and entered in a new era following the fall of the Baathist regime on December 8, 2024. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), jihadist armed group in Syria, has implemented its misogynist policies since it took control of Damascus. The first action of the group was to issue rules regarding women's outfits and looks while there are dozens of problems to be solved in the country.

 NuJINHA interviewed Gulnaz Osman of the Democratic Islamic Congress Women's Council about the new rules issued by HTS in Syria.

 ‘Their ideology has not changed even though they emerged with a new face’

The history of HTS, which took control of Syria following the fall of the Baathist regime, is full of rights violations, said Gulnaz Osman. “HTS is actually the continuation of Al-Nusra Front, having a history full of rights violations against women. Their ideology has not changed even though they emerged with a new face. For instance, they say women are unsuitable for roles within the judiciary. The decisions made by them pose a risk to women. Syrian women have been living amid war for years and they are the ones who are most affected by the ongoing war. Despite everything, Syrian women keep resisting.”

 ‘A threat against women’s identity’

Gulnaz Osman drew attention to the anti-democratic decisions made by HTS and said, “Women are forced to wear hijab. Islam does not require women to wear hijab. During the time of our Prophet, women played an active role in all facets of life, including war, economy, trade, agriculture and medicine. However, the patriarchal mindset deprives women of many of their legitimate rights in the name of Islam. The current government (in Syria) aims to erase women from public life.”

In the Middle Eastern countries, women are restricted in the name of Islam, Gulnaz Osman stressed, adding: “The same policies are implemented not only in Syria but also in Iran and Afghanistan. Women’s freedoms are restricted by religious regimes and forces. They claim that they protect women’s rights but they do not. They aim to shape women according to their own ideology, not to Islam. The most appropriate solution to political Islam is democratic Islam. Today, we spread the ideology of ​​Democratic Islam.

‘It causes fear among people of different religions’

Speaking about the current situation in Syria, she said, “Some Syrian young people have also joined HTS. But we know very well that there are fundamentalist groups within HTS from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and many other countries. This situation pose a threat to religious ethnic groups in Syria and cause fear among people of different religions.”

‘Their history is full of femicide cases’

Gulnaz Osman also expressed their concerns about Syria’s new government, “Because we know their bloody history; their history is full of femicide cases. Since we do not know the real purpose of the new government, we, as women, must demand our rights right now, without waiting for tomorrow. Women must take part in the drafting of the new constitution.

“Syria is the home of different ethnic and religious identities such as the Druze, Christians, Muslims and Alawites. They claim that they will found an Islamic state, but we know very well that they aim to found a fundamentalist state. We call on Syrian women not to remain silent and rise up right now, not tomorrow, or you will lose your rights.”