The interim government in Syria has mandated that women wear burkinis or other modest attire at public beaches, raising conversations around women's rights and freedom of expression in the nation.
Syria Implements Burkini Mandate for Public Beaches
Syria Implements Burkini Mandate for Public Beaches
Syria's interim government enforces clothing regulations for women at public beaches, emphasizing modesty standards.
The article text:
In a move to enhance public safety and uphold standards of decency, Syria's Islamist-led interim government has issued a decree requiring women to wear burkinis—modest swimsuits covering all but the face, hands, and feet—or other "decent" clothing at public beaches and swimming pools.
The regulations, reported by the Syrian state news outlet Al-Ikhbariyah al-Suriyah, are part of a broader effort to enforce modesty on the shores of Syria. However, private beaches, clubs, pools, and hotels with more than four stars are exempt from this directive.
According to the new rules, beachgoers are expected to don swimwear that adheres to modesty standards, emphasizing the burkini or other apparel that provides greater body coverage. The directive also states that women should wear a cover-up or loose garments while transitioning between swimming areas, and swimming attire is not permissible outside designated beach zones without appropriate covering.
Men too are subject to these regulations, mandated to wear shirts when not in the water and prohibited from being bare-chested outside of swimming locales.
While the decree allows "normal Western swimwear" at exempted facilities as long as it aligns with public taste, it calls for all individuals to dress modestly—eschewing transparent or tight clothing in favor of loose-fitting attire that covers shoulders and knees.
Details on enforcement and potential penalties for non-compliance remain unclear at this stage. The regulations also encompass various safety measures for pools and beaches.
This decree follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by Islamist rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa in December of last year, which concluded years of civil unrest in Syria. Since assuming the interim presidency, al-Sharaa has pledged to govern inclusively and prioritize women's education, countering notions of an Afghanistan-like state that restricts women's rights.
In March, he signed a constitutional declaration outlining a five-year transitional period, affirming Islam as the president's religion and naming Islamic jurisprudence as the principal source of legislation, while also guaranteeing women's rights and freedoms of expression and the press. As the nation navigates its future, these developments in modesty laws highlight ongoing debates regarding gender and freedom in post-conflict Syria.
In a move to enhance public safety and uphold standards of decency, Syria's Islamist-led interim government has issued a decree requiring women to wear burkinis—modest swimsuits covering all but the face, hands, and feet—or other "decent" clothing at public beaches and swimming pools.
The regulations, reported by the Syrian state news outlet Al-Ikhbariyah al-Suriyah, are part of a broader effort to enforce modesty on the shores of Syria. However, private beaches, clubs, pools, and hotels with more than four stars are exempt from this directive.
According to the new rules, beachgoers are expected to don swimwear that adheres to modesty standards, emphasizing the burkini or other apparel that provides greater body coverage. The directive also states that women should wear a cover-up or loose garments while transitioning between swimming areas, and swimming attire is not permissible outside designated beach zones without appropriate covering.
Men too are subject to these regulations, mandated to wear shirts when not in the water and prohibited from being bare-chested outside of swimming locales.
While the decree allows "normal Western swimwear" at exempted facilities as long as it aligns with public taste, it calls for all individuals to dress modestly—eschewing transparent or tight clothing in favor of loose-fitting attire that covers shoulders and knees.
Details on enforcement and potential penalties for non-compliance remain unclear at this stage. The regulations also encompass various safety measures for pools and beaches.
This decree follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by Islamist rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa in December of last year, which concluded years of civil unrest in Syria. Since assuming the interim presidency, al-Sharaa has pledged to govern inclusively and prioritize women's education, countering notions of an Afghanistan-like state that restricts women's rights.
In March, he signed a constitutional declaration outlining a five-year transitional period, affirming Islam as the president's religion and naming Islamic jurisprudence as the principal source of legislation, while also guaranteeing women's rights and freedoms of expression and the press. As the nation navigates its future, these developments in modesty laws highlight ongoing debates regarding gender and freedom in post-conflict Syria.
