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Under Pretext of "Preventing Mixing"... Female Lawyers Banned from Entering Central Civil Registry in Damascus
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The policy of gender segregation in service institutions reveals a serious regression in the concept of equal citizenship and a restriction of professional freedoms that should be guaranteed in a civi
Lawyer Fawaz Bahaa El-Din Al-Khoja denounced a sudden decision preventing female lawyers from entering the Central Civil Registry on Thawra Street in Damascus, in a move he described as unacceptable and contrary to legal and professional norms.
In a post on his personal account, Al-Khoja addressed what he called "the concerned authority," expressing surprise at the justification of "preventing mixing" that was used to ban female lawyers from performing their professional duties, questioning the nature of the alleged mixing and how it affects the professional relationship between a lawyer and their client.
The lawyer expressed concern about the impact of these decisions on the course of justice and citizens' legal rights, affirming that lawyers, regardless of gender, have the right to follow up on their clients' affairs and perform their professional duties without discriminatory obstacles or restrictions.
Al-Khoja pointed out that such practices contradict the principles of progress and development, calling on officials to reconsider these decisions that affect the independence of the legal profession and citizens' right to appropriate legal representation.
Observers view these measures as reflecting a concerning trend in the policies of Syria's interim caretaker government, which appear contradictory to the civil values that Syrian society has been accustomed to, especially in the capital Damascus, which has historically been characterized by its open civil character.
Legal sources indicate that imposing restrictions on female lawyers' work strikes at the core of the principle of judicial independence and legal professions, and creates obstacles for citizens seeking legal services, especially women who may prefer to deal with female lawyers.
Experts confirm that these practices highlight the need to adopt an inclusive system in Syria's future that ensures respect for each region's specificities and culture, while preserving the civil and professional gains achieved by Syrian society over decades, instead of attempting to impose a unilateral vision that contradicts the cultural and social diversity that characterizes the Syrian fabric.
