Syrian rebels Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - Women's Rights

[IwantToRetire]

“General Leadership: It is strictly prohibited to interfere in women’s clothing or impose any demands related to their attire or appearance, including requests for modesty.

We affirm that personal freedom is guaranteed for everyone, and that respecting individuals’ rights is the foundation of building a civilized nation.”

https://x.com/Bushra1Shaikh/status/1866131911300542672

This seems like a positive statement, but obviously early days.

And even if they as a group have watered down their former Islamic fundamentalism, there is nothing to say that in the current vaccum a more fundamentalist group wont take hold.

And for anyone who didn't see the video that showed a young boy among the women prisoners freed by rebel groups, thought to have been born and only known prison as his "home". https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/syria-assad-regime-toddler-freed-underground-prisons-b1198834.html

I admit I've not be rejoicing about the news from Syria, the fact Assad has been overthrown is brilliant but I'm worried about who will replace him, as hard to as it is to imagine, it could be worse than Assad.

But this statement does cheer me up, as you say early days but the fact that they've decided to make such a statement does fill me with hope that they'll stick to it.

Not sure what any of us can do at the distance, and lack of knowledge and understanding.

But assuming they did actually say this, hope it will stay in the front of people's minds when reporting or commenting in the days ahead.

Well, the UN chap did say he was hoping for a miracle.

I remember the joy when The Shit of Iran was deposed. Didn't last long.

I've seen reports and videos on Twitter of Kurdish women being taken as slaves. I don't hold out much hope for women in Syria

Well that's the problem with twitter. Generalised statements.

Unless you are saying that this particular group is responsible.

The situation in the Kurdish area is also really complicated because of the added element of those wanting a separate Kurdish country (another British heirloom in that area thinking civil servants in London could just draw lines on maps and then tell people in the area this suits us, sorry you dont like it!) Turkey is opposing this.

And if news media can be believed most reports of women being taken as slaves are by IS / Isis, who HTS oppose.

Didn’t the Taliban say this when they took over in Afghanistan? Unless women have power such gestures will not be kept to.

Yeah they did, as I recall.

That's why its important to keep this is the public eye.

In a way what was worse was when Cherie Blair was sent out to justify war by saying it was being done on behalf of saving women.

And then having made a mess the UK and others just left and suddenlty women weren't important any more.

The group I quoted isn't the only one taking advantage of the Syrian regime not having Russia's full attention / military force.

It's just as likely that those that Turkey is helping will end up in power. And as we know women's rights in Turkey have gone backwards.

And Turkey's attitude towards Kurds is hardly benevolent.

Assad was a monster.
Maybe the situation will improve for the population in general . I doubt it will improve for women .

Lol, imagine quoting Bushra Shaikh and having so much touching faith in a statement from the jihadis du jour.

Syria is a clusterfuck with no redeeming actors- they are all villains with one notable exception : the kurds and their YPG units with women soldiers who fought against the sex slavers and head-choppers. If you are so naive as to quote such bad faith actors as Bushra fucking Shaikh, it is clear that you have not the foggiest notion of what is happening in that beknighted country.

This has worried me, too. Christians in Syria backed Assad (also a member of a minority, the Alawites, a schism from Shia Islam) because he extended toleration/protection to them against anti-Christian Islamist views. It remains to be seen how this revolution will treat women and members of minorities such as Jews and Christians, who are indigenous, of course, and whose religions both pre-date the Arab/Islamic invasion of the Levant in the 8th century AD (CE just means AD). Ditto the Alawites, who have long been persecuted by mainstream Islam.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
At the moment I've just got my fingers crossed, Please, just once, let it turn out right.

The leader is off to a good start by declaring that he'll reclaim Jerusalem and Mecca to form a new Islamic Caliphate.

https://x.com/Rim_Turkmani/status/1866176660086604189

Also forbids female and Christian judges sitting.

Dont be so silly.

Nobody including myself who started the thread said they had any faith in it. Cant you do better than a cliche knee jerk look at me being really clever.

If you read the thread it was about how, if at all, any of us can somehow stop women from being not just ignored but persecuted by a different group of men.

Dont be so silly.

Nobody including myself who started the thread said they had any faith in it. Cant you do better than a cliche knee jerk look at me being really clever.

If you read the thread it was about how, if at all, any of us can somehow stop women from being not just ignored but persecuted by a different group of men.

Indeed.Likewise Saddam Hussein, whose removal allowed ISIS to flourish? Gaddafi too. Syrian Christians will be looking to emigrate of course. Just as Iraqi Christians did. Odd how the born agains in the USA give so little thought to the fate of these ancient communities. Just collateral damage I suppose.

It remains to be seen how this revolution will treat women and members of minorities such as Jews and Christians, who are indigenous,
According to Wiki, there are precisely 3 Jews left in Syria, out of a community that once numbered a couple of hundred thousand,

And if news media can be believed most reports of women being taken as slaves are by IS / Isis, who HTS oppose

HTS origins are Al Qaeda, who also oppose oppose Da'esh, but

The leader is off to a good start by declaring that he'll reclaim Jerusalem and Mecca to form a new Islamic Caliphate

HTS split from AQ because they did not seek a global Caliphate, confining their aim to Syria

The post-Assad euphoria will not last

Any group that thinks they should base the running of a country according to the diktats of a religious sect, is going to be negative for women.

That doesn't mean we should just sit back and go I told you so.

What is disturbing is that despite how western media reports on issues, so many countries ie including Christian, now have political parties where they reference religious belief as part of their political analysis.

Maybe what we in the countries who aren't having to face social upheaval after the over throw of a dictator, should ask our countries not to manipulate the situation. ie reports that a couple of days ago one Syrian faction supported by Turkey was close to confronting another faction backed by the US.

Or in fact sustain dictators in the first place and sell them arms.

So the loss of euphoria will be as much to do with outside interfence as anything inherent to Syria.

It would be nice to think that women in the relative safety of the UK would be concerned enough about women in a country facing this upheaval to wish them well, and not just dismiss them as a lost cause.

The Turkish influenced areas have been that, long before the fall of Assad.

The country is fragmented.

A brutal leader such as Assad could hold it together to a sufficient degree.

Will the newly successful rebels be able to do that, and do it without external support? It's all very well saying that other countries shouldn't interfere, but Syria has borders with 6 countries, the international politics are complex, and the region is volatile.

It's all very well saying that other countries shouldn't interfere

I suppose what I mean, that they should have the good grace not to try and manipulate whatever future the country might have to suit their countries agenda. ie Turkey not wanting Kurds to have any rights.

Israel not just saying but actively instigating actions to bring about a "greater Israel".

And the UK and the UK.

I have heard a few interviews with Syrians saying (to paraphase) we just want to be able to elect a Government, and at the next election if we dont think they were very good elect someone else.

Sort of niave, but better than dreading family members being disappeared only to be tortured or killed.

I hadn't realised until today that Syria had become a "narco state". Something called captagon that had become so profitable for private individuals that the state had nationalised it!

This is a very hard to read statement by Women Living Under Muslim Laws on Syria.

I think the first page has been published twice(?).

https://www.wluml.org/2024/12/12/wlumls-statement-on-syrian-liberation/