Syrians Protest Damascus Alcohol Sales Decree

Hundreds of Syrians from various religious backgrounds gathered in the Christian neighborhood of Bab Tuma in Damascus on Sunday to protest a new decree restricting alcohol sales across the city, voicing concerns that the measure could exacerbate sectarian divides and erode personal freedoms.

The demonstration, organized following calls from civil society groups, unfolded peacefully in a grassy square near the medieval stone lanes of Damascus's Old City. Protesters chanted "Syrians are united" and held banners declaring "personal freedom is a red line," emphasizing unity across sects. Security forces, heavily armed, surrounded the crowd but reported no incidents, according to witnesses on the scene.

The rally stemmed from a decree issued last week by the Damascus governorate, which prohibits the sale and provision of alcoholic beverages in all restaurants, nightclubs, and bars throughout the capital. Establishments must comply within three months by removing alcohol from menus and converting relevant licenses to cafe permits. The order, which authorities described as responding to community complaints aimed at curbing practices contrary to public morals, permits sales of sealed...