Anger in Syria’s Latakia after authorities ban women government employees from wearing make-up

A decision by authorities in the Syrian province of Latakia to ban female public sector employees from wearing makeup during official working hours has sparked widespread anger and controversy, prompting the province's media directorate to issue a clarification.

Activists criticised the decision as an infringement on personal freedoms and an attempt to restrict women's rights.

In response, the media directorate said the move "does not aim to restrict or infringe upon freedoms", but rather to "regulate professional appearance and avoid excess, in a way that achieves a balance between personal freedom and the requirements of a formal work environment and the public image of institutions".

The clarification, however, failed to quell criticism and instead triggered further backlash.

Syrian human rights activist Mais Fares told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the decision reflected "an authoritarian mentality that seeks control rather than administration, and submission rather than reform".

"When the authorities fail to hold corruption accountable or provide economic solutions, they resort to the easiest targets: the woman’s body and appearance," Fares added.

Syria's current authorities came to power after rebels led by current President Ahmed Al-Sharaa toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Many of the rebel groups had an Islamist orientation, with Sharaa previously leading the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which had roots in Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch.

HTS severed all links to Al-Qaeda in 2017, and Sharaa has tried to present a more moderate and inclusive face ever since coming to power, with no official restrictions on personal freedom.

However, several decisions and statements made by the new authorities have provoked controversy and anger.

Last summer, Latakia provincial authorities published instructions to visitors calling on them to wear "modest" clothing at beaches and swimming pools, in a move widely seen to be aimed at women.

After controversy, the provincial governorate said it wasn’t calling for the wearing of a specific garment and that its instructions were in line with those of other countries in the region.

In the city of Al-Tal near Damascus, local authorities have banned men from working in women’s clothing stores, according to AFP.

One government employee who gave her name as "Nadine" said the decision to ban make-up left her feeling humiliated.

 "We commit to our work and serving citizens, and makeup has never been a measure of competence. It would have been more appropriate to address workplace problems instead of monitoring our appearance," she told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.