An aerial view shows people swimming at the beach in Latakia, a Syrian Mediterranean coastal city, on June 11, 2025. (Credit: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP.)
BEIRUT — Two days after the release of a decree indicating that women should wear burkinis or other body-covering swimsuits on Syrian public beaches, the Syrian Tourism Ministry claims its decision was "misunderstood" and that it did not ban "Western" beach attire in the country.
"We did not ban the Western swimsuit on public beaches," stated Ghaith al-Farrah, the Minister of Tourism and Development, during an interview given to the channel al-Akhbariya. "The word 'ban' is not mentioned anywhere in the decree, and there are no penalties foreseen," insisted the minister.
"This decision aims to specify what type of attire is allowed depending on the beaches and establishments," he further noted, reminding that an exception is required for luxury hotels rated four stars and above, as well as for private beaches and clubs, where the Western swimsuit remains allowed.
"Those who wish to enter in Western attire [on public beaches] have the right to do so, but we have allowed the burkini, which was banned in some places, to meet the demand of a large part of society," the senior official further explained.
'We consider the diversity of Syria'
"It's not because a type of attire is allowed in one place that another is banned, but we take into account public taste and the religious and social diversity of Syria," he added, emphasizing that it was not a presidential decree and that it could be amended at the end of the season. Details on the types of clothing required depending on bathing locations will soon be published by the governorates and coastal cities, Farrah further specified.
Dated June 9, this ministerial decree signed by the Tourism Minister, Mazen al-Salahani, states that visitors to public beaches and pools must wear "appropriate swimsuits that respect public decency and the feelings of the different segments of society." It therefore recommends "more modest swimsuits" and specifies "the burkini or swimwear that covers more of the body." As for men, they must wear a T-shirt when not swimming and are not allowed to appear shirtless "in public areas outside bathing zones — hotel lobbies or restaurants," the text specifies.
These directives regarding beach attire are part of broader provisions also concerning public safety in anticipation of the summer season, with recommendations on prolonged sun exposure, child protection, lifeguard devices, and "beware of jellyfish."
The publication of this decree has caused strong reactions in Syria and internationally, as the Damascus authorities issued for the first time directives concerning what women can wear since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December, while Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa promised to protect freedoms in the new Syria and a provisional Constitution guaranteeing women's rights.
Under the Assad regime, marked by a secular Arab nationalist ideology, the state imposed no such restrictions, even though people often dressed modestly on public beaches, reflecting the country's conservative social norms. But the new Syrian authorities, emerging from an Islamist coalition, have already made a mark in this area since taking power following the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024. In March, the Syrian authorities notably quickly reconsidered a decision to close bars, cafes, and restaurants serving alcohol in predominantly Christian neighborhoods of Damascus, after the uproar caused by this measure.
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