Syria has issued guidelines on what women should wear when going to the beach. This directive makes it mandatory for women to wear a burqa or full body covering even when going to the beach.

President Bashar al-Assad fled the country after capturing the capital Damascus in November last year. After the capture of Damascus, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sam assumed new leadership. International media CNN has commented on this directive issued by the new government as the latest 'cultural shift' seen in Syria.

The Ministry of Tourism said that the guidelines were issued in the public interest. Minister of Tourism Majen Al-Salhani wrote on social media Facebook that 'locals or foreign tourists - they should wear appropriate clothes when going to the public beach or swimming pool, taking into account the sensitivity of different sections of society and the behavior of the general public'. 

In the guidelines issued by the ministry, it is said, 'Burqa or modest clothing covering most of the body is mandatory on public beaches and swimming pools.' In this guide, it is mentioned that women should wear body covering clothes even when passing by the seashore.

Men's clothing is also mentioned in this directory . Men are also not allowed to wear topless clothes in public places. The Ministry has said that such rules will not apply to star hotels or international hotels/resorts. In such places, Western-style swimming custom wear is mentioned in the guide . In the guidelines issued by