Introduction:
Amid the profound social and economic transformations taking place in Syrian society, gender-based violence has emerged as one of the most serious challenges affecting family cohesion and societal stability.
A recent incident in the village of Bza’a, east of Aleppo, has once again highlighted the extent of violations women may face within the family. An orphaned woman was forced to kneel and kiss her mother-in-law’s feet as a condition for returning to her husband’s home. The scene was filmed at the mother-in-law’s request and carried out by the husband.
The circulation of this video sparked widespread public outrage, culminating in the mother-in-law’s arrest and the husband’s escape. This reflects a growing sensitivity towards issues of women’s dignity, but it also reveals the depth of the structural problems associated with gender discrimination and domestic violence—problems exacerbated by years of conflict, deteriorating economic conditions, and a lack of legal and social awareness.
This paper aims to analyze this case as a representative model, highlighting the reality of women’s rights in Syria, and to offer practical policy proposals for decision-makers. These proposals are based on international standards and local reports and seek to adopt a comprehensive approach that strengthens the legal protection and social empowerment of Syrian women.
First: General Background on the Situation of Women in Syria
Syrian women suffer from complex challenges that have accumulated over more than a decade of conflict, the effects of which extend to fundamental rights in the areas of health, education, and social protection.
The disintegration of institutional structures, the decline of public services, and rising poverty rates have increased the vulnerability of women, particularly widows, orphans, and displaced women.
United Nations reports indicate high rates of early marriage and teenage pregnancy, reflecting clear gaps in education and reproductive health.
Furthermore, some Syrian legislation still contains forms of legal discrimination, including the nationality law, which denies women the right to pass on their nationality to their children. This exacerbates the risks of statelessness and weakens family security. In addition, Syria is witnessing an alarming spread of gender-based violence. International and local reports indicate that women and girls live in unsafe environments due to the risks of sexual violence, domestic violence, and forced marriage. Syrian human rights organizations have documented thousands of violations against women in recent years, including murder, arbitrary detention, torture, and domestic violence.
These violations are exacerbated in some rural and semi-rural areas, where traditional cultural patterns prevail, granting the family, or some of its members, excessive power over women and justifying practices of humiliation and punishment under the guise of honor or obedience, as clearly demonstrated in the Bza’a incident.
Second: A Socio-Legal Analysis of the Case
The Bza’a incident reflects a complex interplay between poverty, legal ignorance, and social traditions that view women as subordinate members of the family, lacking independence or adequate protection. The conflict has contributed to weakening the social and legal control system, reinforcing the reliance on traditional customs as an alternative to the law, under the guise of preserving dignity or family peace.
Regional studies show that domestic violence is closely linked to economic pressures and patriarchal cultural patterns, leaving profound effects on the mental and physical health of victims, as well as negative repercussions for children and society as a whole.
Conversely, the widespread reaction to the incident on social media highlighted indicators of growing public awareness of women’s rights and increasing societal rejection of practices of humiliation and violence.
However, this awareness continues to be hampered by the weakness of the legal system. Syrian law addresses domestic violence as a general offense, without a separate definition or specialized protection measures for victims.
This deficiency exacerbates the vulnerability of women, particularly those lacking family support or a stable economic situation, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle of violence and social dependency.
Third: Policy Proposals and Recommendations
Based on this analysis, this paper proposes a set of realistic and implementable policies, drawing on successful international experiences and adapted to the Syrian context:
- Specialized Legal Reform and Legislation:
Amend the Penal Code to include an explicit definition of domestic violence, encompassing psychological abuse, humiliation, and coercion, along with the introduction of deterrent penalties and immediate protection measures for victims. It is also recommended to reform the Nationality Law to guarantee equality between men and women, in accordance with international obligations. - National Awareness and Education Programs:
Launch sustainable awareness campaigns through media outlets and educational institutions, targeting both women and men, and focusing on the most vulnerable areas, in cooperation with relevant international organizations. - Socioeconomic Support for Affected Women:
Establish specialized centers providing free legal and psychological services, along with vocational training and economic empowerment programs, to enhance women’s independence and reduce their recidivism into violent environments. - Enhancing women’s participation in public life:
Ensuring effective representation of women in political transition processes and decision-making, as this is a prerequisite for formulating fair and sustainable policies. - Institutional monitoring and evaluation:
Establishing an independent national committee to monitor the implementation of these policies, issue periodic reports assessing progress, and provide corrective recommendations when needed.
Conclusion
The Bza’a incident underscores that protecting Syrian women is not merely a moral imperative, but a fundamental prerequisite for achieving social stability and building a state governed by the rule of law.
Ignoring these issues threatens family cohesion and undermines the prospects for societal recovery during this delicate transitional phase.
Therefore, we, at the Family Affairs Office of the Syrian Future Movement, call upon the Syrian government to take urgent and serious steps to review existing legislation and policies, in conjunction with an effective partnership with civil society and international support, in order to contribute to building a new Syria based on dignity, equality, and social justice for all.
