In Damascus and Aleppo, Syrian women are voicing concerns over their limited participation in the country’s new transitional parliament, highlighting ongoing challenges despite recent advances in female representation.
On the same day authorities announced the completion of Syria’s first People’s Assembly since the fall of former president Bashar Assad, dozens of women gathered in central Aleppo to demand greater political inclusion. The new assembly, comprising 210 seats with 207 lawmakers named so far, marks a critical step in Syria’s political transition, but women activists say it falls short in reflecting their contributions and capacities.
Aisha al-Khatib, a 32-year-old law student and coordinator of the Power of Decision Through Women’s Voices initiative, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of female representation. Although the number of women in parliament increased to about 10 percent following the appointment of 15 women by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Khatib stressed that mere numbers do not equate to genuine political power. “Representation is not just numbers,” she said during the Aleppo protest, emphasizing that women should participate as equal partners based on merit rather than symbolic inclusion.
The assembly’s 210 seats include 137 members selected through indirect elections and 70 appointed by the president under transitional constitutional provisions to broaden representation. The appointments drew from various professional and social backgrounds, including academics, community leaders, former political detainees, and activists, aiming to balance the assembly's composition. However, only about 21 or 22 women secured seats, a figure below global and regional averages that reignited debate on structural barriers facing women in Syrian politics.
Critics highlight the structural obstacles that prevent women from winning elected office. Asmaa al-Mahmoud, a 28-year-old governance consultant and human rights advocate, called for a temporary gender quota during Syria’s transition, noting the underrepresentation of women even in populous provinces like Aleppo, where only two women were elected out of 46 seats. “Women are not decoration,” she said, underscoring the need for meaningful influence rather than tokenism.
Government officials maintain that the presidential appointments address representation gaps. Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, head of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, said the selection of 15 women along with 55 men from diverse sectors was intended to ensure a more balanced and inclusive legislature. Prominent appointees include Rozina Lazkani, an actress from Hama; Samira Ayman al-Wattar, a legal committee member; and Israa al-Mashhour, an agricultural researcher, among others who bring experience from academia, civil society, and activism.
Despite the increase in female lawmakers, experts caution that the real measure of progress will be the ability of women to influence legislation and hold the executive branch accountable. Lawyer and former parliamentary candidate Mahmoud Hammam noted that reaching at least 30 percent female representation is widely regarded as the threshold at which women can form an effective parliamentary bloc. He emphasized that improving participation requires an environment where qualified women can compete and advance on equal footing.
Women's representation in Syria’s parliament has historically trailed behind international norms. Currently at around 10 percent, it remains below the global average of more than 27 percent and is comparable to some regional neighbors like Lebanon but significantly less than Iraq and Jordan. Over past decades, women’s presence in Syrian parliamentary bodies gradually increased but often without translating into significant political power or influence on policy.
As Syria’s transitional parliament prepares to convene its inaugural session and elect leadership, the spotlight is on whether this increase in female members will signify substantive progress. Elected MP Aqeel Hussein indicated the importance of women’s involvement in key committees and legislative processes as the true test of their participation.
For activists like al-Khatib, the goal extends beyond temporary measures. She envisions a future where women’s political roles emerge naturally from merit and equal opportunity rather than through appointments. With Syria entering a critical phase of rebuilding and governance reform, the next months will reveal whether the new assembly marks a meaningful shift in women’s political empowerment.