The transitional government in Syria, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has introduced a policy separating the workspaces of male and female doctors at Al-Muwasat Hospital in Damascus, according to a report by JINHA. The decision, implemented in April, has sparked widespread criticism for undermining professional standards in healthcare and restricting women’s rights.
Syria’s transitional government was established following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad on 8 December 2024. HTS, a Sunni Islamist paramilitary group formed in 2017 through the merger of several jihadist factions, including the former al-Nusra Front, assumed control of the interim administration. Since taking power, the group has faced accusations of human rights abuses, particularly against women and minority groups, such as the Alawite community in Syria’s coastal regions.
The segregation policy at Al-Muwasat Hospital, a major public healthcare facility in the capital, requires male and female doctors to work in separate areas. Critics argue this measure disrupts collaboration essential for patient care and contradicts global medical standards. JINHA reported that the decision has been widely condemned as a “regressive step” that further erodes gender equality in Syria’s post-Assad era.
HTS’s broader governance has drawn scrutiny for imposing restrictive social policies. Reports indicate that the group has enforced dress codes, including headscarf mandates for women in public spaces, and curtailed freedoms in areas under its control. In Idlib, where HTS has maintained a de facto administration since 2017, human rights organisations have documented systematic abuses, including arbitrary detentions and suppression of dissent. The group’s actions against Alawites, a religious minority, have been described as severe, with allegations of targeted violence in coastal areas.
The policy follows other controversial measures attributed to HTS. On 16 April, Al-Muwasat Hospital briefly ordered gender segregation on employee buses, requiring women to sit at the back. Following public outcry, the rule was rescinded within days, with officials claiming it was a “misunderstood internal regulation”. The hospital’s latest workspace segregation, however, has not been reversed, raising concerns about HTS’s long-term vision for gender roles.
Syria’s healthcare system, battered by over a decade of civil war, faces ongoing challenges, including shortages of staff and resources. Critics warn that policies like the segregation of doctors could exacerbate these issues by limiting teamwork and discouraging female professionals from continuing their work.
