bad adventure in deir-ez-zor

In fact you were almost certainly being watched over by undercover police, as they follow any and all foreigners that visit Deir al-Zur, and have done so for the past 2 years. They probably witnessed what was happening, but didn't act until they could call sufficient backup to deal with that number of people (and they don't usually carry guns, either).

I agree with you, though, Deir al-Zur is not the place for foreign women to visit alone, especially areas that are somewhat isolated such as around the suspension bridge. Hopefully the people involved with this incident will be dealt with, and I imagine they will be. The security agencies in Syria take incidents involving foreigners very seriously.

My husband and I were in Deir-ez-Zor recently and didn't have any bad experiences, although I will say we did have a couple dodgy ones in the desert between Damascus and Deir-ez-Zor (we are travelling by bicycle). I too think a little extra caution is not a bad idea and women should definitely not be overly friendly with men, even if it's completely innocent on your part. I have discovered that even a simple smile can kick off things you'd never imagine. Definitely a learning experience!

Interesting, there must be more to this than you've said. How were you all dressed?

We need to aware of cultural norms when in moslem countries.

Dress can play a big part in unpleasantries. Western dress can seem very provocative. As #2 mentions, a smile from a woman is a come on in many cultures, not just moslem. Similarly a man innocently giving a friendly smile to a woman could cause problems.

we were dressed very normally, it's winter and the weather is very cold, so we had long coats, big dark scarfs, and wool trousers,large.
i don't think that it happened for our way of dressing, just because of the eid al-kabir, maybe many people from the countryside come there for the holydays...i don't know.
anyway, it was just a suggestiion for women planning to go there, i repeat that i always feel safe in sirya and that it was the only time we had such a problem

Yeah, it was almost certainly because of Eid. For some reason holidays in Syria bring the most awful, obnoxious groups young men into the city streets, and they often seem to be looking for trouble. They probably weren't from Deir al-Zur, but from the countryside.

I was in Deir-ez-zor right befor the big Eid and I had a great time there, my impression was; people in that city are very friendly and peaceful, I am sorry for the bad experience you had there but I think what thegrayrace said was the only explaination since I noticed a bad relation between people of the city and people who come from the country.

I have to say, I find your recollection of events shameful.

First, how can 100 men even fit on the suspension bridge? Or push you into a boat on the river when there is a guardrail and no boat can even get close. Maybe something like this happened but why exaggerate your story to make you sound like a victim?

Second, the secret police did see everything and we actually heard the story through a friend who lives there. Not at all what you described. We heard the girls were trying to 'play tricks' (flirt) with some local boys and when they made advances your companions 'acted aggressively' (stood up to protect you). At this point, which set of men backs down and loses face? No one, so the situation gets worse and deteriorates to the point that the police need to step in and rescue you from a situation you created.

Next time be more aware of your location and do not act as if you are in Canada.

100 men could very easily fit on the Deir al Zur suspension bridge rsiminkas, don't know if you've seen it.

It is only wide enough for two camels to pass by each other. If 100 men were grouped together, there would be no space for anyone to move. My point was more that 100 seemed like such a perfectly round and exaggerated number. We heard more like 25 men were there.