Syria: Information on the treatment of women since April 1992
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SYR16138.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Syria: Information on the treatment of women since April 1992, 1 January 1994, SYR16138.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae280.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
KIMSPublisher:Toronto
Sociologist Amal Abdul-Rahim who looked at divorce cases handled by the Islamic Sharia courts in Damascus and the nearby countryside found that wife-beating is common and is "the most used way to settle marriage disputes" (Reuters 20 Aug. 1993). Further Abdul-Rahim stated that "men are still treating women as their personal property, and feel that they can deal with their wives as they wish without restraint" (ibid.).
According to USA Today, Syria, along with Sri Lanka and the Philippines, is a country where "women are detained, tortured or killed for being related to someone the government considers undesirable" (15 Apr. 1991).
A Syrian sociologist specializing in women's issues stated that is was very difficult to provide a comprehensive picture on the current treatment of women since many factors must be taken into account. Elements such as education, geographic location, religious affiliation, ethnicity and social status are all important factors that must be considered (21 Dec. 1993; 22 December 1993). Generally, the more educated women are, the more conscious they are about their rights but it is difficult for women to express or organize themselves (ibid.). According to this source, there is no generalized custom of beating women even though it might be tolerated in some communities (ibid.).
On the specific issue of the treatment of Jewish women, The Jerusalem Post reports that "Jewish women who have tried to escape from Syria are known to have been raped and murdered" (14 June 1991).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Jerusalem Post. 14 June 1991. Sally Zerker and J. Benjamin Friedberg. "Jews, Settlements and Arab Intolerance." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 20 August 1993. BC Cycle. Issam Hamza. "Wife-Beating Common, Divorce Rising, Syrian Study Finds." (NEXIS)
Syrian sociologist specializing in women's issues, Hull. 21 December 1993. Telephone interview.
Syrian sociologist specializing in women's issues, Hull. 22 December 1993. Telephone interview.
USA Today. 15 April 1993. Final Edition. Endya Eames. "Rape, Torture a Way of Life for Women Around the World." (NEXIS)
Attachments
The Jerusalem Post. 14 June 1991. Sally Zerker and J. Benjamin Friedberg. "Jews, Settlements and Arab Intolerance." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 20 August 1993. BC Cycle. Issam Hamza. "Wife-Beating Common, Divorce Rising, Syrian Study Finds." (NEXIS)
USA Today. 15 April 1993. Endya Eames. "Rape, Torture a Way of Life for Women Around the World." (NEXIS)
