Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced the creation of a committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration to guide the transition following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. The committee comprises experts, including a female member, and aims to provide a legal framework for governance amid ongoing rebuilding efforts in the war-torn country. The process is expected to take up to three years, with hopes for a permanent constitution established based on justice and equality principles.
On Sunday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the establishment of a committee responsible for drafting a constitutional declaration, aimed at guiding the country’s transitional phase following the removal of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad. This development marks a pivotal point in Syria’s history, as the nation seeks to rebuild after over five decades of Assad’s authoritarian rule and a prolonged civil conflict that has wreaked havoc across the country.
The presidency confirmed that the committee comprises several experts, including one woman, tasked with creating a constitutional framework for the transitional period in Syria. This seven-member group is expected to present its recommendations to the president, although no specific timeline has been provided for their work. Sharaa, who assumed the role of interim president following the successful overthrow of Assad, emphasized that the rewriting of the constitution could take as long as three years.
Moreover, the recent national dialogue conference in Damascus laid the groundwork for the new Syria, emphasizing the necessity of establishing a legal structure that supports the newly proposed governance. The conference’s resolution includes calls for a constitutional committee that aims to draft a permanent constitution, encompassing principles such as justice, freedom, equality, and the establishment of a rule of law.
Among the committee’s members are Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a constitutional law expert from Turkey; Yasser al-Huwaish, dean of Damascus University’s law faculty; and Bahia Mardini, a journalist and legal scholar residing in Britain. Ismail al-Khalfan and Mohammed Reda Jalkhi, both of whom hold specialist degrees in law, also serve on the committee, further solidifying the expertise present in this crucial undertaking.
The ongoing conflict in Syria, which ignited in 2011 after a brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests by Assad’s government, has resulted in over 500,000 deaths and has displaced millions, severely impacting the nation’s economy and infrastructure. With a caretaker government now in place, the announcement of the constitutional committee signals a new chapter for Syria as it moves toward recovery and stabilization, with new governance set to be formed by March 1.
In conclusion, Syria’s formation of a constitutional drafting committee represents a significant and hopeful step in its journey toward rebuilding and governance reform after decades of repression under Bashar al-Assad. As the nation embarks on this critical transitional phase, the committee’s work will be instrumental in shaping the legal and institutional framework for a future Syria rooted in the rule of law and democratic principles.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
