Damascus Residents Protest Alcohol Ban Targeting Non-Christian Neighborhoods

Hundreds of people gathered in the streets of Damascus on Sunday to protest a new government decree restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol in Syria’s capital. The demonstration followed an announcement last week that banned alcoholic beverages throughout most of Damascus, except for select Christian neighborhoods. The government said the measure aims to “eliminate practices that violate public morals,” but many residents see it as a threat to personal freedoms and civic liberties.

The protest took place in Bab Touma, a historic Christian neighborhood near the Old City, where demonstrators from various religious backgrounds assembled. Surrounded by armed security forces, they chanted slogans such as “Syrians are united!” and carried signs calling on the government to protect individual rights and religious minorities. Isa Qazah, a 45-year-old sculptor who joined the rally, said, “This is not about whether we want to drink alcohol, this is about personal freedom. We have come here to defend an idea.”

Bar owners in Damascus have been given three months to comply with the new order. The decision comes as President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s interim government faces increasing pressure from conservative factions to implement stricter social policies. Al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who led rebel forces that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 after more than a decade of civil war, had previously promised to safeguard Syrians’ rights and religious diversity.

Since taking power 15 months ago, al-Sharaa’s administration has introduced several measures that have raised concerns among secular and minority communities. Last year, authorities banned women working in the public sector from wearing makeup and required full-body swimsuits on public beaches. These moves have fueled fears that the government is moving away from its earlier pledges to protect pluralism.

Tensions remain high among Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic groups. Over the past year, sectarian violence by progovernment Sunni fighters has resulted in hundreds of deaths among Alawite and Druze communities. Protesters on Sunday expressed concern that the alcohol ban could further inflame divisions, especially since it allows sales only in predominantly Christian areas. Some argued that this policy singles out Christians and frames them as responsible for what officials describe as “violations of public morals.”

Damascus has long been home to secular Muslims as well as Christians and other minorities. While Islamic law prohibits alcohol consumption, many residents say the city’s character has always included tolerance for different lifestyles.

Fawaz Bahauddin Khawja, a Christian lawyer at the protest, questioned the rationale behind targeting specific neighborhoods. “How are our neighborhoods violating public etiquette? The division this creates is unfair and irresponsible,” he said. “This is the real face of Damascus. The only flag we raise is the Syrian flag.”

In response to growing criticism ahead of Sunday’s protest, Damascus authorities issued a statement late Saturday apologizing to the city’s Christian population for any misunderstanding related to the decree. The statement clarified that hotels would be exempt from the new restrictions and insisted that regulating alcohol sales does not infringe on personal freedoms. “The regulation of alcohol sales exists in all countries, with differences in how it’s applied and enforced,” officials said.

Despite these assurances, many residents remain skeptical about the government’s intentions and worry about further restrictions on civil liberties in Syria’s capital.