Syrian authorities have walked back a controversial decision to ban alcohol sales in most of Damascus after protests and widespread criticism from residents who accused the move of targeting religious minorities and restricting personal freedoms.
The original decree issued by the Damascus governorate would have prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants and nightclubs citywide, while allowing limited sales only in the predominantly Christian neighbourhoods of Bab Touma, Qassaa, and Bab Sharqi. Officials said the measure aimed to respond to “numerous complaints” and uphold public morals.
However, the decision sparked public protests and accusations of sectarianism, with demonstrators arguing it unfairly singled out Christian communities and undermined long‑held secular freedoms in the capital. In response, authorities issued a clarification apologising to affected residents and said there would be exceptions for tourism‑related venues such as hotels and designated restaurants.
Critics see the episode as part of broader anxieties over social restrictions under Syria’s new interim government, even as officials maintain the intent was administrative rather than discriminatory.
