The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the peaceful protest organized by activists and citizens in Bab Touma Square in Damascus on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in rejection of Damascus Governorate Decision No. 311, issued on March 17, 2026. This decision restricts the sale of sealed alcoholic beverages to three specific neighborhoods (Bab Touma, Qassaa, and Bab Sharqi) and prohibits their sale in restaurants and nightclubs throughout the city.
The Syrian Future Movement views this decision, and the widespread controversy it has generated, as a dangerous indicator of the nature of administrative authority during the transitional phase. Based on the opinions of prominent Syrian legal and constitutional experts, the Movement asserts that the decision raises fundamental legal and human rights issues, including:
- Exceeding the limits of administrative authority by disproportionately interfering in personal freedoms and social practices. This violates the principle of proportionality and necessity stipulated in the Constitutional Declaration for the Transitional Period, and contravenes previous legislation, such as Decree 180 of 1952, which regulates the profession without regional discrimination.
- Regional and de facto sectarian discrimination, as it leads – despite the stated intention of controlling chaos – to the categorization of neighborhoods based on their religious or cultural composition, threatening the historical fabric of coexistence in Damascus and contradicting the principle of equality before the law stipulated in the Constitutional Declaration.
- The absence of participation and consultation with the local community and neighborhood committees, as confirmed by the Bab Touma neighborhood committee, religious figures, and activists, renders the decision lacking in social legitimacy at a time when trust in institutions needs to be strengthened.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates the peaceful and civil nature of the protest and affirms that exercising the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental constitutional rights that must be protected, especially after the sacrifices made by Syrians for freedom and dignity. It also welcomes the official apology issued by the Damascus Governorate to the residents of the affected neighborhoods and the announcement of a review of the zoning plan within three months, considering it a positive initial step upon which to build.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for:
- The immediate cancellation of Decision No. 311, or its radical amendment to become a general, non-regional, and non-discriminatory zoning plan, while adhering to standards of personal freedoms and public morals without infringing upon dignity.
- Launching a transparent societal dialogue that includes neighborhood committees, religious leaders, activists, and the tourism and commercial sectors, to formulate consensual regulatory policies.
- Strengthening the independence of local administration from ideological interference, and ensuring that transitional decisions are subject to judicial and constitutional oversight.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the Syria of the future must be a civil state that respects its cultural and religious diversity, protects individual freedoms without discrimination, and builds its national unity on the basis of justice and equality, not division or categorization. Protecting fundamental rights today is the only guarantee for the stability and prosperity of tomorrow.
