• 22 Jan, 2026

The Syrian Salvation Government, operating in the city of Idlib in northern Syria, has issued a decision prohibiting the organization of any event without its approval, directed at all government bodies and civil institutions

In the decision published today, Thursday, August 29, the government stated that no event may be held without obtaining approval from the Events Office affiliated with the General Directorate of Political Affairs

The government justified its decision by saying it serves the public interest, aims to regulate activities, and prevent any violations. It urged compliance with the decision under legal accountability

The Salvation Government did not specify the types of events that require its approval

This decision comes three days after an event organized by the “Violet Organization” for the Paralympic Games at the municipal stadium in Idlib, which sparked wide controversy and led to a division between supporters and opponents

The event, held on August 26, included a celebratory festival where participants carried torches and lit lights, which some considered contrary to local culture, norms, and traditions, as it seemed to mimic Western traditions and use symbols deemed inappropriate and unrepresentative of the community. Religious scholars and clerics described it as “rejected and contrary to religion”

On the other hand, others saw it as an opportunity and an initiative to draw attention to northern Syria by linking the event to a global sports occasion and promoting social integration for people with disabilities

After the event concluded, the Salvation Government issued a statement saying that what took place violated culture, norms, and traditions. The organization was summoned, warned, and instructed to suspend all its activities

The region has witnessed criticism and attacks, as well as calls to close events and shops due to alleged violations of religious standards, such as gender mixing, the presence of hookahs, and the failure to take measures to prevent interaction between men and women

Earlier this year, Enab Baladi obtained an unofficial copy of the Public Morals Law from the Salvation Government, which includes 128 articles. The law is divided into five chapters, containing a set of rules and regulations regarding the moral and behavioral conduct of community members in Idlib, which were described as a draft and not final

The chapter on violations of public morals includes prohibitions on gender mixing unless a family relationship is proven, and bans on the use of musical instruments and audio-visual performances considered “contrary to religion and public taste”

Smoking is also prohibited in public and service institutions, hospitals, medical centers, pharmacies, and transportation

Additionally, it is forbidden to display “inappropriate” commercial goods in shop windows, or to stand in front of schools, institutes, universities, and areas designated for women, in ways that contradict social norms

The Salvation Government, composed of 11 ministries, controls administrative and service aspects of life in Idlib Governorate, parts of northern Hama countryside, and parts of western Aleppo countryside, while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham exerts indirect control over the region economically and in terms of services