A decision issued by the Latakia governorate in Syria, banning female employees in government departments from wearing makeup during official working hours, has sparked widespread controversy on social media, raising concerns about restrictions on personal freedoms.
A circular was shared online instructing public administrations to inform all female employees to refrain from wearing makeup “permanently” during work hours, threatening “legal accountability” for violators. Public reaction was divided, with critics calling the decision an interference in personal liberty and poorly timed given the daily hardships Syrians face, while supporters viewed it as a step toward regulating “public appearance etiquette” in the workplace.
In response to the criticism, the Latakia governorate issued a clarifying statement, asserting that the circular “does not aim to restrict any group or infringe upon personal freedoms guaranteed by law.” The statement added that the goal is to “regulate professional appearance and avoid exaggeration” to balance personal freedom with official work environment requirements.
This decision comes amid a series of measures that have heightened concerns within Syria’s diverse society, more than a year after the country’s change in leadership. These measures include a decision by the municipality of Tal in rural Damascus to prohibit men from working in women’s clothing stores, as well as previous instructions enforcing “more modest” attire at public beaches and swimming pools.
