Syria Establishes Committee to Draft Transitional Constitutional Declaration
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced the formation of a seven-member committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration for the transitional phase following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. The committee aims to establish a legal framework while integrating principles of justice and equality, amid ongoing efforts to rebuild the country after years of conflict.
On Sunday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the establishment of a committee responsible for drafting a constitutional declaration intended to guide the nation through its transition following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. This committee aims to facilitate the rebuilding of Syria and its institutions after over 50 years of autocratic rule and a 13-year civil war.
The committee, comprised of seven experts including one woman, will prepare the constitutional declaration to regulate the transitional phase of governance. The announcement did not disclose a specific timeline for the submission of proposals to the President. Notably, the Assad-era constitution has been repealed as part of these reforms.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and took office as interim president in late January, emphasized that rewriting the constitution may extend over three years. His administration also highlighted the formation of this committee as a response to the aspirations of the Syrian populace for a governance structure grounded in the rule of law.
The committee includes experts such as Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a constitutional law scholar, and Bahia Mardini, the sole female member who has a background in journalism and law. The members are tasked with ensuring the draft constitution balances institutional powers while embedding justice, freedom, and equality into Syrian governance as encouraged during a recent national dialogue conference.
Syria’s conflict, emerging from protests in 2011, has resulted in severe humanitarian and economic crises, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost and millions displaced. A caretaker government is currently overseeing the transition until a permanent government is anticipated to form on March 1.
In summary, the formation of a committee to draft a constitutional declaration marks a significant step in Syria’s transition towards rebuilding its governance after the removal of Bashar al-Assad. The involvement of legal experts underscores a commitment to establishing a new legal framework based on justice and equality. The path forward remains challenging as the nation grapples with the aftermath of prolonged conflict.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
