The Key Role of Women in the New Syria, Promises of the New Head of Women's Affairs Office

Aisha al-Dibs, the new head of the Women's Affairs Office in the Syrian interim government, promised that this government will highlight the role of women in the reconstruction of war-torn Syria. In an interview with Al Jazeera from Damascus on Sunday, December 23, she stated that the new Syrian government is committed to involving Syrian women in social, cultural, and political institutions and utilizing qualified women in 'key roles,' including in health and education sectors. Al-Dibs called on women from all provinces and ethnicities in Syria to participate in the national conference where the future of the country will be discussed, stating, 'It is clear to everyone that Syrian women have historically been very influential and can lead in all areas, and today we are restoring the pioneering role of women in building the new country and the freedom we all aspire to.' According to the new head of the Women's Affairs Office, 'spontaneous and unorganized efforts' in the process of liberating prisoners from the previous regime have led to the manipulation of prison records, resulting in the uncertain whereabouts of many female prisoners. Al-Dibs also announced the establishment of a hotline to support detained women, saying, 'Women who have been previously detained need psychological support, training, healthcare, and legal assistance for filing cases against their jailers.' Earlier, Susan Zakzak, a member of the leadership council of the Syrian Women's Association, expressed deep concern over the lack of women's rights in the country, stating that the new ruling body has not provided any explanation about the future, and the statements of its leaders are accompanied by 'great ambiguity.' Zakzak emphasized that after the fall of the Assad regime, which brought deep joy and satisfaction to the people, Syrian women will no longer accept being returned to their 'traditional roles.' Aisha al-Dibs, appointed as the head of the Women's Affairs Office on Friday, is the first woman to hold a senior government position in the new Syrian government. She has been known for her legal and humanitarian activities and previously worked with a charity in Idlib province in northwestern Syria and in Syrian refugee camps in Turkey. Following the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, concerns have arisen regarding the behavior of the new rulers of Syria towards minorities and Syrian women due to the ideological background of this group. These concerns were heightened after a video surfaced showing Lia Khairallah, a young Syrian woman, receiving a 'hijab reminder' from Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. Khairallah later wrote on her Instagram that the request from the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham was 'kind and paternal.' Previously, controversial remarks by a spokesperson for the new Syrian government regarding the role and alleged 'nature' of women in a television interview sparked widespread outrage. Obeida Arnaout told Lebanese television that the 'nature' of women makes them incompatible with certain political roles and evaded answering a question about whether women are allowed to work as judges. This comment, deemed 'sexist' by critics, raised concerns about the future of women's rights in Syria and led to protests on social media.