Syrian women hope for inclusion, freedom in post-Assad era

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00In Damascus, the celebrations haven't stopped since the Assad dictatorship fell.

00:09Women are cheering their newfound freedom and intend on keeping it.

00:13French teacher Anan Assi feels reassured that the rebels have promised to uphold personal

00:18freedoms.

00:19We greet them, they respond, we congratulate them, they respond.

00:27I hope with all my heart that things will stay this way, because if they start to oppress

00:32women like us, who are open-minded and have open-minded convictions, we will fight against

00:40it.

00:41It's a sentiment shared by her friend Zohra.

00:51We're united despite our differences, and we'll make sure it stays that way.

00:57This man embraces his young daughter, caught between hope and fear.

01:03I hope they'll let women study and do what they like with their appearance, like my daughter

01:08with her uncovered hair.

01:15Khedra Al Mala sells clothes to fund her law studies.

01:18She wants women to have the career they choose, unlike in other countries run by Islamists.

01:26It's true, I'm a bit afraid, but I don't want to live in fear anymore.

01:29I want my dreams of becoming a lawyer in service of our society to come true.

01:38At this funeral for a famous opposition figure, women have turned out in force, intending

01:42to play an active role in society.

01:46We asked the new government to give us a real role in the Syria that we're building.

01:50We can't be pushed aside.

01:53For now, militia patrols appear to be respecting the interim government's orders of tolerance

01:58towards women.

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