Women and the Crisis

  It is only apt that on the occasion of mother’s day in Syria which falls on march 21st , the role of women should be mentioned .The role of women in general in Syria ,and the role of women in this crisis .

   The Syrian government has forever broadcasted how much it has pushed for women’s rights- but in reality much more should have been done. Although there is female representation in parliament and in the government it is nowhere near fair or enough. Divorce laws are still harsh and unfair to women as are inheritance laws. A Syrian woman married to a non Syrian up till this date isn’t allowed to pass on her nationality to her offspring!  And honour crimes are still not punished by law as they should be. Much more should have been done in empowering women and much more should have been done in planting the seed of gender equality in Syrian education and Syrian culture. The government treated such issues at a superficial level ,rather than delving  into the roots of the problem. Women themselves pose a problem sometimes, for in the hearts of their hearts they believe they are subservient to men no matter how educated they are or from what strata of life they come from.

    But having said all this – the question remains what is the position of women in this ‘’ revolution? ‘’ will it empower them? Will it give them the equality that they are sadly lacking? Will their voices be heard? Or their faces seen? Or their demands met ?

   Sadly it doesn’t look so for the pillars of this’’ revolution ‘’ appear to be religious extremism and radicalism which are knows to oppress women.

   The men of this ”revolution” are Islamist men who want to institute sharia law and cut down on women’s rights. No one in the opposition is talking about women’s rights. The narrative of the opposition when found has no new insights to offer when it comes to women. The vast majority of the opposition’s political and media activists are men and this is proven just by following the reporting that is done on Syria on various TV stations- it is almost always male voices that narrating the numerous you tube videos. The women when present are always present as victims who have been tortured , widowed or raped- who are weak and helpless and have  no hold over their destiny.

    And in reality even worse happens to these women who have the bad luck to live in refugee camps outside Syria. There have been many documented cases of rape or else of young girls who are sold as brides for a cheap price to Gulf Arabs. The opposition has done nothing to protect these women , neither is it on their agenda .

   Even in the local opposition councils inside Syria women are grossly underrepresented as they are in the opposition bodies outside the country.

   There is no fair deal for women in general, but for those hoping to find favourable change and who support the ‘’revolution’’ their scenario reads far worse than others.

Reem Haddad