Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham prevents girls from studying media and political science

Khalil Abdul Rahman – Idlib

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham continues to restrict and impose its strict and stringent laws on the population within its areas of control in North-West Syria. Despite its claims of openness and changes in its dealings with civilians, it still imposes religious extremism in all areas of life and institutions operating in the region.

The last of these practices was her instructing the administration of the University of Idlib to prevent girls from enrolling in the College of Political Science and Media, which was created recently, and to limit studies in this college to young men only in order to reduce the role of women in the media field under the pretext that it is “forbidden by law.”

The student at the Faculty of Science at the University of Idlib, “Khalid Al-Sarhan” (a pseudonym), told Aso News Network that the university administration’s decision to prevent girls from enrolling in the newly opened Faculty of Political Science and Media was not made publicly or by an official decision, but rather this news was circulated in a private manner. It is very widespread in the university and some teachers at the university have confirmed it.

He explained that the decision came as an official directive from “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham”, which believes that the presence of women in the media field is not compatible with religion. In addition, it imposes other restrictions on university life, such as preventing male and female students from mixing.

Al-Sarhan stated that the decision came after a meeting that included the leader of the authority, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the head of the Salvation Government, Ali Kidda, and the university president with a number of professors.

He stressed that the college is currently devoid of any girls, as no female students applied to register after its opening in November of last year.

The decision was met with angry and rejecting reactions from a wide segment of university students, as they considered it a violation of women’s rights, a reduction in their role in the areas of public life, a marginalization of it, a blatant violation of the rights of female university students, and a confiscation of their freedom to choose the field they wish to study and work in after their graduation.

In this context, one of the students at the College of Science (who requested that her identity not be revealed for security reasons) said to Aso News Network:
“Unfortunately, there is a contradictory reality that we live in in these areas under the authority’s control. We are witnessing urban development and the establishment of investment projects, but from an intellectual standpoint, there is still backwardness.” It dominates the minds of those responsible for these areas.”

She added that preventing girls from practicing the media profession and studying it is considered a major violation of women’s rights, and she believes that any student has the right to choose the field that she wants to study. She adds, “But Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Salvation Government have a different opinion.”

The student adds: “Over the past years, girls at the University of Idlib and even the rest of the universities within the areas under the authority’s control were deprived of their freedom, as officials were constantly alerted to the issue of dress, mingling between the sexes, and restrictions on female students, even within the halls and during lectures.”

She stressed that “the decision faced a wave of widespread criticism from both males and females, but no one can disclose this to the university administration and teachers.”

She demanded that the decision be canceled and that everyone be given the freedom to choose their field of study. She points out that the student in Idlib is studying in the hope that he or she will find a job through which he or she can live despite the lack of recognition at Idlib University, according to her.

The Commission has a long record of violations against young people, especially university students, including suppression of freedoms, gagging of mouths, restrictions on personal freedoms, and imposition of strict laws against them, since its presence was established in areas in Idlib and its countryside and parts of the western countryside of Aleppo and western Hama following the battles with the Syrian government forces. , between 2019 and 2020 AD.

The media and human rights activist (M.M.) also spoke to Aso News Network, saying: “The news was not surprising to me, as it is known that the Commission imposes its hegemony and ideas on all institutions in the areas under its control in North-West Syria, especially universities, and it is known that there are many violations and abuses.” It has happened before, such as arresting students simply for expressing their opposing opinion, or restricting girls and focusing on the most trivial and smallest things.”

He added, “The University of Idlib is almost the only haven for male and female students to complete their studies. It includes about 8,000 students, and although it is not recognized by any Arab or foreign country, it is an outlet for these male and female students.”

He describes the decision to prevent girls from studying at the College of Political Science and Media as a “ridiculous” decision, and considers it a setback in the university whose administration does not enjoy independence. He stresses the need for the Commission and its ideas to distance itself from civil institutions in general, considering that “studying any specialty is the right of the student and no one else” “.

The human rights activist demanded that this decision be retracted, pointing out that its implementation proves the fact that the university is subject to the orders of the Commission, especially since most of its teachers are linked to it, he said.

Between a law that prevents girls from entering the Faculty of Information, another that prevents them from choosing their dress, and another that suppresses their freedom to participate in sensitive and key positions in the administration of the region, women remain the biggest victim of these extremist ideas and laws that stem from a wrong concept that increases the suffering of women in that geographical region of Syria.