Reports | 29 08 2024
rozana
A video on social media of a women’s musical group playing drums at a women-only wedding was received with widespread criticism and backlash, involving hate speech, leading to a lawsuit filed against the Group’s leader.
In an interview with Rozana, the Group’s leader confirmed the woman who was hired to film the wedding posted a video on TikTok showing the female musicians playing drums, expressing her concerns over the lawsuit that was filed against her.
She further explained that the wedding was not mixed, and the hosts had hired a traditional male drum group but had brought extra drums for the women’s celebration. Her group had only brought a DG and one drum, marked with the name "Umm Ziyad."
The video went viral on local social media pages, showing women in long black dresses, without revealing their faces, playing drums at the wedding, resulting in an official complaint filed by the Salvation Government, controlling the area.
What do I do now?
The Group leader told Rozana that she works with several women, performing only at women’s events, since ‘Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) already enforces strict gender segregation.’
After the video went viral, she received a ‘summon notice’ from the Ministry of Justice of the Salvation Government, demanding her appearance before the prosecutor's office or face ‘religious accountability based on Shariah.’
"I don’t know what to do; I have three orphaned daughters, and I only work to provide for them." She told Rozana.
Widespread criticism
Social media users, particularly males, mocked the all-women musical group, calling for a ban on women playing drums, with many describing it as ‘disgraceful.’
One user, Ahmed Abu Sheikh, commented sarcastically: "A drum and a veil together? Where’s the morality police?" Referring to HTS’s female employees who monitor public behavior according to the group’s strict regulations, which many human rights advocates describe as extremist.
Another user asked, "Since when do women play drums?" Others went so far as to demand an outright ban on wedding celebrations, accusing the women’s group of ‘immorality.’
On the other hand, Journalist Faiz al-Daghim expressed his support for people’s right to celebrate, saying: “No one should say playing the drum is haram (forbidden). If it were, they would ban it in the stadiums that bring in money for them."
Hypocrisy much
A resident of Idlib, spoke to Rozana anonymously for safety reasons, noting that: “Drums are commonly used in the region, in celebrations and even among HTS members.”
He added that: " When HTS fighters were arrested on charges of spying, they played drums to celebrate their release."
He pointed out that HTS often reacts to public criticism or ‘trends’, making decisions based on social media backlash. "They start issuing decrees to appear as the morality police for the community and to appease HTS hardliners the public." He explained.
Previously, HTS shut down the Kiwi Café in al-Dana city in late July, just days after it opened, citing ‘violations of Sharia law’ due to mixed-gender seating and the use of hookahs. The café was temporarily closed following a complaint against the owner.
HTS, despite claiming to sever ties with al-Qaeda, continues to impose strict regulations on personal and civil freedoms in areas under its control in northwest Syria.