Criticism in Syria after women excluded from some university courses

Syria’s new Islamist government has barred women from enrolling in several university and technical programs, drawing public criticism. The regulations for the 2026–2027 academic years affect several institutions, including two universities established in July under Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, a former leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), came to power following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. He was appointed interim president in January 2025 and has since pledged to form an inclusive government.

According to documents published by the Ministry of Higher Education, women are excluded from programs in law and social sciences, administration, and economics at the National University for Defense Sciences, as well as from military engineering programs. Another institution, the Syrian University for Security Sciences, reserves several programs for men, although women are permitted to study cyber security. The restrictions also extend to technical institutes specializing in oil and gas, railway transportation, and radio and television direction. Under the regulations for the previous academic year, women could still enroll in certain oil and gas programs, including accounting and precision instruments.

The measures have drawn criticism from students and teachers. Israa Salloum, a high school graduate, told AFP that no one had the right to force her to choose a particular field of study or exclude her from another. The constitutional declaration adopted in March 2025 guarantees women the right to education. The new rules also appear to contradict recent efforts to expand women's participation in law enforcement agencies. In September, Syria graduated its first class of 150 female police officers following six months of training.  Since taking power, Syria's new authorities have faced criticism over measures affecting women's freedoms. In September, a prominent school in Damascus reportedly announced plans to separate male and female students from the middle-school level onward. Four women's rights and civil society organizations also accused the authorities in August of restricting freedoms and imposing forms of social control that disproportionately affect women. The new admission rules do not impose a complete ban on women studying law or engineering, as such programs remain available at other Syrian universities.