Syria forms committee to draft constitutional declaration for country’s transition

DAMASCUS

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree Sunday to form a committee of experts tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration for the country's transitional phase following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The committee includes Abdul Hamid al-Awak, who holds a doctorate in constitutional law, Yasser al-Huwaish, who was recently appointed as dean of Damascus university’s law faculty, Ismail al-Khalfan, who holds a doctorate in law specializing in international law, Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, who holds a doctorate in law specializing in international law and Bahia Mardini, the sole woman, who is a journalist with a doctorate in law.

According to the decree, the committee will be responsible for drafting the constitutional declaration, which will organize Syria’s transitional phase. It is expected to submit its proposal to the president.

The Syrian Presidency noted that the decision was made “in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people to build their state on the foundations of the rule of law” and based on the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference. The aim is to establish a legal framework for the transitional period.

The Syrian National Dialogue Conference, held last Monday and Tuesday, saw participation from a wide range of societal figures, and President Sharaa attended on the second day. The conference aimed to set a roadmap for Syria’s future following the overthrow of the Assad regime.

According to the final statement of the conference, among several decisions, it was agreed to expedite the announcement of a temporary constitutional declaration that aligns with the needs of the transitional period and ensures the resolution of the constitutional vacuum, thereby facilitating state operations.

The conference also decided to form a committee to draft a permanent constitution that ensures a balance of powers, strengthens the values of justice, freedom and equality and establishes the rule of law and institutional governance.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

On Jan. 29 this year, the Syrian administration announced the appointment of Sharaa as the country’s president during the transitional phase. The decision also included the dissolution of armed factions, security agencies that existed under the previous regime, the parliament, the Baath Party and the annulment of the previous constitution.