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Under the pretext of "Nature" and "Traditions"... "Al-Jolani's Government" seeks to restrict Syrian women's freedoms
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Statements by the head of the Women's Office in the "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" government reveal a comprehensive strategy to restrict women's freedoms under the guise of respecting cultural privacy
Statements by Aisha Al-Debs, head of the Women's Affairs Office in the caretaker government of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham", revealed a systematic plan to restrict Syrian women's freedoms under the cover of "cultural privacy" and "respect for traditions".
In an interview with Turkish channel "TRT", Al-Debs disclosed her absolute rejection of global women's rights standards, questioning: "Why do we wish for a model? Why don't we create our own model that suits our country, suits our reality, suits our customs, traditions, and authenticity?"
The official's speech highlighted a clear effort to monopolize women's work, as she emphasized that "the Women's Affairs Office is the facade that represents the attraction of international organizations," stipulating that "it must support the model being built" to allow any feminist activity.
Al-Debs ignored the organization's violations of women's rights, focusing her talk on "psychological pressure" and "displacement and forced migration" resulting only from the previous regime's practices, in a clear attempt to whitewash the image of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham."
The official's statements revealed a condescending view of women, justifying the restriction of freedoms by saying "we are going through a phase unlike other phases," emphasizing the necessity for women to adhere to the "educational role" and "priority scale."
Al-Debs announced a plan to control economic resources, stating: "We will put our hands on our resources in the Syrian Jazira, meaning 75% of Syria's resources of oil, gas, wealth, and strategic crops," linking women's support to this expansionist plan.
The head of the Women's Office imposed strict conditions on humanitarian organizations' work, confirming that "all humanitarian work gates pass through" the organization's coordination office, in a step aimed at tightening control over any independent feminist activity.
The official accused human rights organizations of corrupting society, claiming that "some organizations that had agendas targeting our children and daughters" caused "a terrible increase in divorce rates in 2018."
Al-Debs called on women to join the organization's institutions, saying: "I invite her to go to government institutions because there is now a big void in institutions," conditioning "not to exceed the priorities of her nature," in an attempt to impose control over women's professional lives.
The official concluded her speech by reiterating her rejection of independent feminist work, confirming that any activity "must not exceed" the strict model imposed by the organization, in a clear indication of its intention to restrict Syrian women's freedoms under the cover of "cultural privacy."
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