A scene never before witnessed in Syria unfolded this week: 150 women completed their training and became the first graduating class of the country's new female police academy.
The graduation ceremony took place Tuesday in the city of Al-Tal, on the outskirts of Damascus, as part of efforts by Syria's new authorities to rebuild the country's security and police systems following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The graduates underwent a six-month training program that included military and physical drills, law and police studies, field skills, and handling cases requiring a female presence in police work. During the ceremony, they were seen marching in formation, performing exercises, and demonstrating some of the capabilities they acquired during training.
According to the academy director, Brigadier General Hoda Sarjawi, the women also studied police law, human rights, immigration and passport regulations, and topics related to combating drugs. The training included weapons handling as well.
