“It is the great Syria, not Assad’s Syria”. This powerful declaration by the late artist and activist Mai Skaf became more than just a slogan—it was an anthem of defiance that echoed through the streets of Syria and across the world. It embodied the unyielding hope of a people determined to reclaim their homeland, a rallying cry that inspired countless revolutionaries to stand against tyranny and envision a free Syria beyond the grip of dictatorship.
With the fall of the Assad regime, Syrian women are increasingly speaking out against the imposition of the hijab and expressing their concerns about the country’s shift toward more stringent Islamic rule. Over the past 14 years, countless Syrian women have made extraordinary sacrifices for the revolution. Figures such as Tal Al-Mallohi, Fadwa Suleiman, Mai Skaf, Waad Alkateab, and Razan Zaitouneh have exemplified the critical role women have played in this struggle. From the very first protest in Souq Al-Harika in March 2011, women have been integral to the movement. Their presence has been unwavering, with thousands of female revolutionaries and activists taking to the streets, raising their voices, and leading by example.
Women as Catalysts for Change
One of the most profound challenges for authoritarian regimes in the Arab world has been the unprecedented mobilisation of women. Their active participation shattered narratives of “foreign conspiracies” or “external incitement,” instead revealing an organic, grassroots demand for change. Women’s prominent roles in protests and leadership underscored a broader societal transformation, marking a shift from silence and submission to defiance and empowerment. No longer passive victims, women became agents of political change, field leaders, and revolutionary icons. Their leadership illuminated the deep failures of Arab regimes, which had long denied their societies dignity, rights, and fundamental freedoms. The success or failure of these revolutions is inextricably linked to the progress or setbacks faced by the women who championed them.
Navigating a New Reality
Today, after the fall of Assad and the establishment of the transitional government under the Salvation Government, Syrian women are grappling with uncertainty about their future. Their concerns have been amplified by remarks from Ubaida Arnaout, spokesperson for the Political Administration of the Military Operations Authority, who suggested that women’s “biological and psychological nature” makes them unsuitable for certain roles. Moreover, isolated incidents related to dress codes, political participation, and Islamic governance have deepened fears of regression. Many fear that the very freedoms they fought for could be eroded by the rise of religious conservatism within governance structures.
The rhetoric of the ousted Assad regime propagated the notion that the opposition would worsen the status of women and impose Islam upon them, yet this narrative ignored the tens of thousands of women killed by the regime’s airstrikes, artillery, and chemical weapons. It also disregarded the thousands of women detained in the regime’s prisons, where they suffered torture, electrocution, rape by regime forces, or death under interrogation. The discourse failed to acknowledge the countless women who were raped during the regime’s assaults on areas labelled as “violent and armed resistance zones.”
Instead, the regime’s narrative reduced women to symbols—like the image of a young woman in a French perfume ad or a romantic American movie. Within the confines of this portrayal, women’s rights were framed, but their rights as full human beings, sharing in the collective suffering, goals, and culture of their society, were neglected.
Women’s Voices: Defying Misconceptions
Despite these concerns, Syrian women are determined to shape their own future. Celine Kasem, a Syrian human rights activist, challenges the notion that women are being forced into conservative dress codes or restricted from public life.
“I think that there hasn’t really been, you know, any sort of enforced wearing of anything, because I was there in Syria for three weeks after the regime fell, and I was there, and I was never told anything by anyone, and I was dressing how I normally dress all around the world. There are some weird individual acts of people putting up posters or whatever, but then these are being debunked as having no part or say in the government or HTS or whatever you want to call it. These are individualistic acts, and I think even one guy turned out to be like a TikTok influencer that just came from Germany to like do his, you know, implement his ideologies into a very diverse city like Damascus where his videos went viral.”
Her testimony underscores the complexity of the situation. While individual extremists may attempt to push a rigid ideology, they do not reflect the broader reality of Syria’s transition. More importantly, women like Kasem emphasise that Syrian women are not passive observers but active participants in shaping their own destiny.
The Role of the International Community
The question of international involvement in women’s rights remains contentious. Some activists believe that Western narratives about the Middle East often obscure the real struggles women face. Kasem elaborates on this.
“Over the past 15 years, Syrian women have shown over and over again that they can stand up for themselves and that they were a part of every single aspect of the Syrian revolution and of decision-making, of civil society, of international organisations, of humanitarian organisations,” she says.
“We have shown over and over again that our space is there and we are a part of anything, any space that we want to be a part of. So I think that some of the question marks or concerns that some of these Western countries or Western organisations are having today are coming from a place of like, you know, an Oriental vision of the region and of our people. They believe that Syria was secular before and today it’s going to be turned into an Islamic state because of the reality that we’re in. But that is simply not true and that will not be allowed by Syrian women themselves before anyone else.”
This assertion reflects a broader frustration with external narratives that often misunderstand or oversimplify local dynamics. Rather than imposing outside solutions, many activists argue that the best way to support Syrian women is to amplify their voices and let them lead their own movement.
Beyond the Hijab Debate: The Real Struggles
While discussions about dress codes dominate Western discourse, activists within Syria highlight far more pressing concerns. Transitional justice, economic devastation, and accountability for war crimes remain paramount.
“I believe that today Syria is a huge crime scene, it is a huge mass grave and there’s so much more and so many more important aspects that we need to look at before going and painting something to be what it’s not. To oversimplify and say that people are putting up posters—no one has been forced to do anything. We are a very diverse country with various beliefs, ideologies, sects, ethnicities, and backgrounds, so people are doing as they please so far. When it comes to the other things we should be focusing on, there are a million things. There is transitional justice, and I believe that that’s the most important challenge that we need international support in, because there won’t be civil peace until there is transitional justice.”
The massive scale of poverty and displacement further complicates recovery efforts. With 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, rebuilding the country will require comprehensive strategies that go beyond symbolic gestures.
Looking to the Future
Syrian women have been the soul of this revolution, the unshakable force behind the fight for dignity and justice. Their voices have risen above gunfire and oppression, demanding not just rights, but a future where they are equals in shaping Syria’s destiny. Yet, the legacy of the Assad regime—a regime that brutalised its people and left the nation in ruins—casts a long shadow. The regime’s calculated propaganda, its systematic violence, and its dehumanisation of dissenters are scars that will take generations to heal.
The resilience of Syrian women, however, is a beacon of hope. Their courage is not just a testament to their strength—it is the foundation upon which a new Syria will be built. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but if history has shown anything, it is that the women of Syria will never be silenced again. They will continue to lead, to dream, and to rebuild, not just their country, but a future where hope and justice triumph over fear and repression. It is only through confronting the atrocities of the past and embracing the voices of those who suffered most that Syria can hope to rise anew.
