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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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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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