(Adnkronos) – The new Islamist authorities in Syria have announced that, from now on, women will have to wear burkinis or “more modest” swimwear on public beaches, while loose clothing is also required out of the water. The new rules, according to the Ministry of Tourism, are in the “public interest”, but do not apply to private beach clubs considered “luxury”, where Western swimwear is still allowed “within the limits of general morality”.
“Women must wear burkinis or costumes that cover most of the body,” the ministry explained in a note, adding that “outside the bathing areas, women must wear loose clothing, while men cannot be topless.” Reactions on social media have been mixed: some have called the decision “a limitation on freedom in a country that should be open and moderate”, while others have praised the new rules as “a cultural duty”.
The crackdown on swimwear is part of a context of increasing religious pressure: in May a nightclub in Damascus was attacked by gunmen and videos are circulating of young people calling for the closure of bars serving alcohol.
