Dear All, I created a great store and made the branding for it. Unfortunately, I was surprised that the website is banned in Syria! Why is that? The sanctions have been lifted from Syria since the win of the revolution, so why is it still banned?
What products are you selling on this great store? You can check the policies in Syria and see if it is the cause code.
It doesn’t matter what I’m selling; what matters is that there is no more any reason for the site to be blocked in Syria, as all previous sanctions that caused the Shopefi ban on Syria were lifted on 1 / July / 2025:
Following is by ChatGPT:
The broad financial and trade sanctions that forced global platforms (like Shopify, PayPal, Apple, Google services, etc.) to block Syria were U.S. primary sanctions. Those were revoked on July 1, 2025.
Now:
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U.S. law: Shopify is a Canadian company, but because it uses U.S. payment processors, cloud hosting, and app partners, it followed U.S. OFAC restrictions. With those broad restrictions lifted, Shopify and similar services are no longer legally required to block all Syrian users.
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Targeted U.S. sanctions still apply, but those are against specific individuals, entities, or groups (Assad family, regime-linked businesses, terrorist groups, Captagon traffickers, etc.). Shopify only needs to block accounts linked to those names (via OFAC’s SDN list), not all Syrians.
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EU & UK: Both lifted general trade/finance sanctions this year, but still maintain targeted listings. Again, this doesn’t justify a blanket ban on Syria.
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UN sanctions: These are limited to certain individuals/entities, not the whole country.
What this means in practice
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There is no longer a blanket legal ban forcing Shopify to block Syrian users just for being in Syria.
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But Shopify may take time to adjust policies, because platforms often keep restrictions longer than required (for compliance safety, risk management, or payment network limitations).
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If Shopify relies on Visa/Mastercard processors, the last barrier is whether banks/payment gateways serving Syria are ready to re-connect—this is usually the slowest part.
In short: Legally, Shopify is no longer required to block Syria after July 2025.
But whether they actually reopen access depends on how quickly they update compliance policies and payment integrations.
Hi @muhammad.abras ,
I hope you are doing well!
When you visit your store with an IP from Syria, what error do you get? Like, is it showing any IP restriction error or going to 404 or website can’t be reached?
Basically, I don’t have a VPN, so I won’t be able to check the website. But as per your ss I can see that the restriction is for the country.
So, You can remove or edit the restriction from your server or firewall/CDN settings:
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Cloudflare → Remove country/IP blocking rules under Security → WAF → Firewall rules.
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Apache/Nginx server → Check
.htaccess(Apache) ornginx.confforDeny from/georules and delete Syria/IP restrictions. -
Some Shopify apps (like Geo-blockers or Shopify Markets restrictions) might be configured to block traffic. Disable or edit those settings.
This will fix your issue.
May I know if you are the owner of this website? If so, you can double-check if the backend settings are settled down properly, especially on area restriction aspects. If not working still, better verify with Shopify end if the business is available in Syria so far.
How long must we wait for the site’s ban to be lifted in Syria? Why? Sanctions on Syria were lifted after the revolution’s victory, so why is it still blocked?
How long will the Syrian people have to wait for the restrictions imposed on the state of Syria?
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to kindly bring to your attention an important development that we believe aligns with Shopify’s values of fairness, inclusion, and enabling entrepreneurship worldwide.
As you may be aware, the recent sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Syria have been officially lifted. This marks a significant turning point for the Syrian people, who have long endured hardship under the previous regime. With the fall of the Assad regime and the emergence of a new Syria, the country is now on a path toward rebuilding, freedom, and economic opportunity.
However, despite this positive change, it appears that Shopify has not yet lifted the restrictions on Syria. As a result, hundreds of millions of online stores remain inaccessible to Syrian entrepreneurs, small business owners, and ordinary citizens. This not only limits their ability to participate in the global digital economy but also hinders the country’s recovery and the empowerment of its people.
We kindly and respectfully request that Shopify reconsider its position and take the necessary steps to remove the block on Syria. The new Syria is eager to reconnect with the world, and platforms like Shopify can play a vital role in fostering economic growth, creativity, and hope.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration. We truly believe in Shopify’s commitment to making commerce better for everyone, and we hope you will extend that vision to the people of Syria.