The Syrian Feminist Lobby condemns the repeated attempts in Syria by figures aligned with, or part of, the authorities to stifle personal freedoms. The latest is a campaign launched by a member of the appointed People’s Assembly against what he called “degrading content” on social media. In doing so, he disregards the right to freedom of expression and presumes to decide what is acceptable and what is not.
It would have been more appropriate for some people to direct their zeal toward confronting the hate speech and incitement spreading on social media—speech that leads to loss of life, intimidation, and the entrenchment of sectarianism in the country.
We are watching these campaigns closely. They seek to restrict freedoms and normalise a single way of thinking that serves particular ideological currents, disregarding not only freedom of opinion and expression and personal freedoms, but also the diversity of Syrian society and the right to differ.
