Syria’s government says women should wear burkins on public beaches

The Provisional Government, led by the Islamist government in Syria, has ruled that women should wear Burkini – a swimsuit that covers the body, except for the face, hands and legs – or other “decent” clothes on public beaches and swimming pools.

The regulations issued by the Ministry of Tourism were “aimed at raising public safety standards and preserving public decency,” said Syrian State Channel Al-Ikhbariyah Al-Suriyah.

Private beaches, clubs and swimming pools, as well as hotels with more than four stars, are released, the directive said.

Women often dress modestly on public beaches in Syria, but some women choose more western swimwear styles.

According to the new directive, beaches and visitors to public pools should wear “more sophisticated swimwear”, specifying “Burkini or swimming clothes that cover more than the body.”

The decree added that women should wear cover or loose clothing over their swimwear when moving between swimming areas.

“Traveling in swimwear outside the beach without appropriate coverage is forbidden,” the message said.

Men should also wear a shirt when they do not swim, and they are not allowed to be bare breasts outside the swimming areas.

The statement said that “normal western swimwear” was usually allowed in vacant places “within the public taste.”

In general, people should wear loose clothes that cover their shoulders and knees and “avoid transparent and tight clothes,” the decree added.

The Directive did not say whether those who did not follow the rules would be punished or how the rules would be applied.

It also included other safety provisions around pools and beaches.

Last December, the Islamist rebel forces led by the Ahmed Al Sharaa regime removed the Bashar al-Assad regime, ending years of civil war.

Since then, Al Sharaa, now temporarily acting president of the country, has promised to manage the country in an inclusive way.

In an interview with BBC Shortly after taking power, he said he believed in education for women and denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan – which greatly limited women’s rights.

In March Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration covering a five -year transitional period.

The document states that Islam is the religion of the president, as the previous constitution has made, and Islamic jurisprudence is the “main source of legislation” rather than a “main source”.

The declaration also guarantees the rights of women, freedom of expression and freedom of the media.