The decision by Douma City Council in the Damascus countryside prohibits "the groom entering women's celebrations in the halls of Douma city", according to a copy of the order published by the council.
It means that even the groom himself cannot enter the women's section of a wedding celebration.
In socially conservative parts of Syria, weddings are usually segregated by gender. However at the end of the women's party the groom usually enters to meet the bride and take her home.

Anyone who has the cultural background to properly interpret this story in context, please raise your hand.

Everyone else, please just laugh and point at these ridiculous people and let's hope Israel can take over Syria since they've spent so much time and effort (largely US) to destabilize the country. /s

Anyone who has the cultural background to properly interpret this story in context, please raise your hand.

Raises hand the idea behind a gender-segregated wedding is that it's, well, gender-segregated. According to the article an exception is usually made for the groom to take the bride from the women's section, but the city council in question was like "wait this defeats the point" and wanted to outlaw that exception. The groom isn't banned from the whole wedding, just the women's section. As for why do any of that, gender-segregation is a universal part of tradition and/or religion (this is a meaningful distinction because they do disagree sometimes, just not here) in Muslim societies, so it's something socially conservative people will want to do out of principle.

I mean the Syrian transitional government can be accused of many things, but I'm not sure not building infrastructure is one of them.

Be sure to stretch before bending over that far backwards to justify a ridiculous religious law. You don't want to pull something.

Understanding context is "bending over backwards"?

I think the rest of the comment made it clear you weren't honestly seeking "context".

Nope, just pointing out bigotry when I see it, and also pointing out the context that anti-muslim bigotry and western imperialism are hand in glove.

Nope, just pointing out bigotry when I see it,

Well yours was on full display so good job.

context that anti-muslim bigotry and western imperialism are hand in glove

This is law. It's no longer "just a local custom". This isn't just criticizing local customs - it's criticizing a state overreach.

This is nottheonion. So what is the joke?

The joke is Muslims are crazy religious and sexist, so I'm calling it out.

The joke is that a silly religious tradition has been made law. That is as ridiculous in Muslim societies as it would be in any other non-Muslim societies.

You see Christian ridiculousness on this forum all the time. Get off your high horse.

Speaking of cotext, the US is threatening to nuke Iran and dehumanizing Muslims is their go-to strategy for poltical justification.

It's your choice to support that message, just like it's your choice to support a genocide.

Uh huh. Muslims are above criticism I see. Gotcha.

They're not, it's just about context. In this case, it's only funny as a joke against all muslims. As a joke against conservative Syrian muslims, I guess?

it’s only funny as a joke against all muslims.

No?

My dude - even the article title specifies a specific city within Syria as where this is happening. The body doesn't even mention Islam.

Seriously - I hope you stretched first.

So what is the joke?

That Douma passed an absurd law which has the locals going "Dude WTF?!"

The joke is that a silly religious tradition has been made law.

What make in oniony? What is the irony? Is every stupid law fodder for this place?