Syria: Women Barred from Defense, Security Colleges

Click to expand Image Officials from the Syrian Ministry of Defense hold a press conference announcing the launch of the National Defense Sciences University in Damascus, Syria, July 13, 2026. © 2026 Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via AP Photo (Beirut) – Syrian authorities have imposed admissions rules that bar women from most programs at two new state universities focused on defense and security, with applications closing on October 19, 2026, Human Rights Watch said today. The discriminatory rules clear