Syria policewomen graduate from new academy

About 150 Syrians graduated Tuesday as the first cohort from Syria's new police academy for women, as the country's Islamist authorities rebuild the security services.

Brigadier-General Huda Sarjawi, director of the Women's Police Institute in Al-Tal north of Damascus, told AFP the graduates had received physical and military training as well as instruction in subjects including law and human rights.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on X that the graduation reflected Syrian women's contribution to serving the country and society.

Authorities inaugurated the academy in March. The women trained for about six months and are expected to join interior ministry forces across Syria.

Syria's Islamist authorities took power after overthrowing longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They have sought to present an inclusive model of governance, but activists and rights advocates have raised concerns about restrictions on personal freedoms and limited women's participation in the post-war transition.

Women served in the police and army under Assad, though in limited numbers. Syria's new military does not accept women soldiers.

Sarjawi said representatives of the Syrian Kurdish Women's Protection Units attended Tuesday's ceremony and that work is underway on their integration into state security forces. No agreement has yet been reached.