Syrian Ministry Bans Athletes over Flag Controversy in Women’s Basketball Team
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports announced on Saturday a formal ban on two female basketball players and a coach from participating in any official athletic activities in the country. The decision comes amid rising tensions over national symbols in post-conflict Syria.
The ban targets players Sidra Ayman Suleiman and Nora Issam Bishara, both of whom appeared in official team photos wearing green uniforms without displaying the newly adopted Syrian flag. The images, posted on Instagram, reportedly omitted the new green, white, and black flag now recognized as the official emblem of post-Assad Syria.
The Ministry, under the leadership of Muhammad Samih al-Hamed, cited what it called a “deliberate act of removal” of the green flag from the players’ jerseys in their social media posts as grounds for disciplinary action.
“Such actions undermine the spirit of national unity and violate the guidelines established for representing Syria in official capacities,” read the ministry’s statement released Saturday morning.
The decision has sparked widespread discussion across Syrian social media platforms, with reactions sharply divided between those supporting the ministry’s emphasis on national identity, and others expressing concern over freedom of expression and the politicization of sports.
The new green-based flag was adopted by Syrian authorities following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, replacing the long-standing red variant associated with the former Ba’athist regime. Its adoption has become a potent symbol of Syria’s ongoing political transformation and an emblem of the country’s redefined national identity.
Since the fall of the Assad government, several institutions have undergone significant restructuring, with state symbols including the flag, national anthem, and public uniforms undergoing formal revision. The Ministry of Sports has been particularly vocal about implementing these changes within national teams.
The affected players had participated in a team photo session organized by the ministry, but controversy arose after they posted alternate versions of those images on their personal Instagram accounts, with the national flag visibly edited out or removed from their jerseys.
The coach, whose name was not disclosed by the ministry, was penalized for reportedly approving the final images shared by the players.
While some social media users criticized the players for what they viewed as disrespectful or divisive behavior, others expressed concern that the Ministry’s actions reflect an overly rigid stance on political symbolism in civilian and cultural domains.
This is not the first time national symbols have stirred controversy in Syria’s transition period. Similar disputes have occurred in the realms of education and entertainment, reflecting deeper debates over identity, memory, and legitimacy in a fragmented society.
For the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which governs large swathes of the northeast including Qamishli and Raqqa, the issue of identity is especially nuanced. AANES institutions emphasize ethnic pluralism and local autonomy, often adopting distinct symbols while maintaining a neutral stance toward broader national debates.
As Syria continues to navigate the complex road to post-conflict reconstruction, issues such as the use of flags and other national symbols remain deeply tied to political identity and public legitimacy. While the Ministry’s ban is unlikely to be reversed, it has opened a wider conversation about the intersection of nationalism, freedom of expression, and the role of public institutions in a society still healing from over a decade of war.