'People demand enforcement of God's law' - Dozens march through Damascus in support of alcohol ban

"Dozens of people gathered in the streets of Damascus on Friday in support of the government's decision to ban alcohol sales. Footage shows activists marching with flags of the First Syrian Republic, along with Islamic banners, chanting slogans such as 'The people demand the enforcement of God's law', 'We want to live in freedom - Islamic freedom', and 'We do not want secularism'. Some held signs reading, 'The nation of Muhammad rejects the mother of all vices', and 'Our country needs schools, hospitals, and factories, not pubs and bars that steal its youth's future'. This follows a protest against a decision that took place in Damascus on March 22, where hundreds gathered to express their opposition to policies they saw as threatening personal freedoms. Last week, the governorate of Damascus issued a directive limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages and banning their service in most restaurants and nightclubs in the city. Legal sales are now restricted to certain areas, such as historically Christian neighbourhoods like Bab Touma, Al-Qassaa, and Bab Sharqi, and only in licensed establishments. Beyond the geographic restrictions, the mandate imposed strict new zoning laws. Alcohol retailers must now be located at least 75 metres away from religious sites, schools, and cemeteries and at least 20 metres from government buildings and police stations. The governorate has issued a clarification regarding its decision, affirming that 'the aim was administrative regulation of the trade within legal frameworks without infringing on citizens' personal freedoms', and offered an apology to residents of Bab Touma, Al-Qassaa, and Bab Sharqi for any misunderstanding of the decision. The current transitional government took power in Damascus in December 2024, later appointing Ahmad Al-Sharaa as interim president, who promised an inclusive government. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced of abuses against Druze, Alawite, Christian, and other minority groups, sparking calls in the Suwayda province for separation."

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