The Syrian transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, signed the draft constitutional declaration after receiving it from the expert committee tasked with its formulation today, Thursday, March 13th.
Al-Sharaa stated, according to what was reported by the official Syrian news agency (SANA) following his signing of the draft, “We hope this marks a new era for Syria, replacing ignorance with knowledge and suffering with compassion.”
He added, “We hope this will be a good omen for the Syrian people on the path to construction and development.”
SANA reported that the committee tasked with drafting the constitutional declaration stated that the draft stipulates that the People’s Assembly shall undertake the entire legislative process, while the executive authority shall be held by the President.
The draft defined the transitional period as lasting five years and granted the President the right to declare a state of emergency.
It emphasizes the importance of judges and their rulings and their independence, leaving the matter of dismissing the president or reducing his powers to the People’s Assembly.
It also guarantees property rights and women’s rights to education and participation in work, ensuring their political rights, in addition to freedom of opinion and expression, media, publishing, and journalism.
The declaration confirms the state’s commitment to the unity of land and people, respects cultural particularities, and emphasizes a specific section on rights and freedoms to create a balance between community security and liberty.
According to the committee’s discussions, it has worked diligently since its formation to accomplish the required task, relying on the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference in the constitutional declaration.
Al-Sharaa had issued a decision to form a specialized committee for drafting the constitutional declaration in Syria on March 2.
The committee includes doctors: Abdul Hamid al-Awak, Yasser al-Huwaish, Ismail al-Khalfan, Riaan Kahilaan, Muhammad Ridha Jalakhi, Ahmad Qurabi, and Bahia Mardini.
The preparatory committee for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference issued a final statement for the conference on February 25.
The conference’s outcomes included 18 points, including the prompt announcement of a temporary constitution that meets the requirements of the transitional phase and ensures the closure of constitutional gaps, which would expedite the work of the Syrian state apparatus.
Additionally, the outcomes included the formation of a constitutional committee to prepare a draft for a permanent constitution that achieves a balance among the authorities, solidifies the values of justice, freedom, and equality, and establishes a state of law and institutions.
Media leaks
Al-Jazeera channel reported yesterday, quoting unnamed sources, that the constitutional declaration to be presented to Syrian president al-Sharaa would include 48 articles, focusing on the concept of transitional justice and the necessity of its application, as well as criminalizing the violations of the former regime.
The sources added that the constitutional declaration would restrict arms to the state, assigning the army the task of protecting the homeland and citizens, and maintaining public peace.
According to Al-Jazeera, the constitutional declaration would focus on human freedoms, the separation of powers, and ensuring the independence of the judiciary, making Islamic jurisprudence a primary source of legislation.
It would also draw upon the spirit of previous Syrian constitutions, especially the 1950 Constitution, according to the Qatari channel.
Additionally, the transitional ruling period is expected to last between three and five years, noting that the new government will not include the position of Prime Minister, and the form of the state will be presidential.
The constitutional declaration criminalizes external calls and communications that threaten the security, stability, and unity of Syria, as well as defining the essential powers of the President.