DAMASCUS: The interim President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, announced on Sunday the formation of a committee to draft a constitutional declaration for the country’s transition after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar Assad.
The new authorities are focused on rebuilding Syria and its institutions after Assad’s removal on December 8, ending more than half a century of his family’s iron-fisted rule and 13 years of devastating war.
The presidency announced “the formation of a committee of experts,” including one woman, tasked with drafting “the constitutional declaration that regulates the transitional phase” in Syria.
The seven-member committee would “submit its proposals to the president,” it said in a statement, without specifying a timeframe.
In late January, Sharaa, leader of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) which spearheaded Assad’s overthrow, was appointed interim president for an unspecified period.
Syria’s new authorities have repealed the Assad-era constitution, and Sharaa has said rewriting it could take up to three years.
In late January, Sharaa promised a “constitutional declaration” to serve as a “legal reference” during the country’s transitional period.
Sunday’s announcement came “based on the Syrian people’s aspirations in building their state based on the rule of law, and building on the outcomes of the Syrian national dialogue conference,” said the presidency.
It also came “with the aim of preparing the legal framework regulating the transitional phase,” it added.
A national dialogue conference held this week in Damascus set out a path for the new Syria.
Who are the committee's members?
The committee includes Abdul Hamid Al-Awak, who holds a doctorate in constitutional law and lectures at a university in Turkiye, and Yasser Al-Huwaish, who was appointed this year as dean of Damascus university’s law faculty.
It also includes Bahia Mardini — the sole woman — a journalist with a doctorate in law who has been living in Britain, and Ismail Al-Khalfan, who holds a doctorate in law specializing in international law, and who this year was appointed law faculty dean at Aleppo university.
Another committee member, Mohammed Reda Jalkhi, holds a doctorate in law specializing in international law from Idlib university, where he graduated in 2023.
The final statement of this week’s dialogue conference called for “a constitutional committee to prepare a draft permanent constitution for the country that achieves balance between authorities, sets the values of justice, freedom and equality, and establishes a state of law an institutions.”
Syria’s conflict broke out in 2011 after Assad brutally repressed anti-government protests.
It spiralled into a complex conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions more domestically and abroad and battered the economy, infrastructure and industry.
In December, a caretaker government was appointed to steer the country until March 1, when a new government was due to be formed.
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Syria forms committee to draft transitional constitutional declaration
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Syria forms committee to draft transitional constitutional declaration
- New authorities are focused on rebuilding Syria and its institutions after Assad’s removal in December
- Presidency announced the formation of a committee of experts tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration
Former Iraq PM Maliki rejects US interference after threat
- His comments come after Trump threatened to end support to the country if Al-Maliki returns as PM
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s main candidate for the premiership, Nouri Al-Maliki, on Wednesday denounced Washington’s “blatant interference,” after President Donald Trump threatened to end all support to the country if Al-Maliki took the post.
The US has held significant sway over Iraqi politics since leading the 2003 invasion that ousted long-time ruler Saddam Hussein.
“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” said Maliki, the only former Iraqi prime minister to have served two terms since the invasion.
“We consider it a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system,” in place since 2003, he added on X.
Maliki fell out with Washington during his premiership (2006-2014) over growing ties with Iran and accusations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.
But the 75-year-old shrewd politician remained a central figure in Iraq’s politics and a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Iraq would make a “very bad choice” if Al-Maliki were selected for the top post.
He warned that because of Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq.”
Maliki was endorsed as Iraq’s next prime minister by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying links to Iran that has emerged in recent years as the main ruling coalition.
‘Until the end’
Since the invasion, Iraq has long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, with successive governments negotiating a delicate balance between the two foes.
But Iraq’s new prime minister is set to return to power at a time of seismic changes in the Middle East, as Tehran’s regional influence wanes and as Washington threatens possible military intervention in Iran.
In his post on Wednesday, Al-Maliki said the US involvement “infringes upon the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate” its candidate.
He added that, in line with that decision, he “will continue to work until the end, in a way that achieves the higher interests of the Iraqi people.”
Several Iraqi political sources told AFP that the coalition is set to meet soon to discuss Trump’s ultimatum.
“Efforts are underway to hold a meeting amid a complicated situation,” a source close to the Framework said.
He added that there were internal divisions within the coalition over supporting Maliki, but that a majority vote ultimately settled the issue.
Maliki’s backers are now pushing to maintain his candidacy and “not back down,” he added.
US representatives in Iraq have been lobbying against Maliki, according to Iraqi sources and diplomats in Baghdad.
Trump’s statement came days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced similar concerns in a telephone call with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The US had also sent a letter to Iraqi politicians saying that Washington views Al-Maliki negatively, political sources told AFP.
Iraq’s new premier will be expected to address Washington’s longstanding demand that Baghdad disarm Tehran-backed factions, many of which are designated terrorist groups by the United States.
Last month, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP that Washington demanded that the incoming government exclude Iran-backed armed groups.
Before Trump’s call, an Iraqi political source said that the Coordination Framework was set on moving forward with the nomination, believing that Al-Maliki could eventually allay Washington’s concerns.
Maliki “thinks differently today,” an Iraqi politician told AFP.
After decades of conflicts and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of stability.
But it is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US, which has already sanctioned several Iraqi entities, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions.
The US has held significant sway over Iraqi politics since leading the 2003 invasion that ousted long-time ruler Saddam Hussein.
“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” said Maliki, the only former Iraqi prime minister to have served two terms since the invasion.
“We consider it a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system,” in place since 2003, he added on X.
Maliki fell out with Washington during his premiership (2006-2014) over growing ties with Iran and accusations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.
But the 75-year-old shrewd politician remained a central figure in Iraq’s politics and a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Iraq would make a “very bad choice” if Al-Maliki were selected for the top post.
He warned that because of Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq.”
Maliki was endorsed as Iraq’s next prime minister by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying links to Iran that has emerged in recent years as the main ruling coalition.
‘Until the end’
Since the invasion, Iraq has long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, with successive governments negotiating a delicate balance between the two foes.
But Iraq’s new prime minister is set to return to power at a time of seismic changes in the Middle East, as Tehran’s regional influence wanes and as Washington threatens possible military intervention in Iran.
In his post on Wednesday, Al-Maliki said the US involvement “infringes upon the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate” its candidate.
He added that, in line with that decision, he “will continue to work until the end, in a way that achieves the higher interests of the Iraqi people.”
Several Iraqi political sources told AFP that the coalition is set to meet soon to discuss Trump’s ultimatum.
“Efforts are underway to hold a meeting amid a complicated situation,” a source close to the Framework said.
He added that there were internal divisions within the coalition over supporting Maliki, but that a majority vote ultimately settled the issue.
Maliki’s backers are now pushing to maintain his candidacy and “not back down,” he added.
US representatives in Iraq have been lobbying against Maliki, according to Iraqi sources and diplomats in Baghdad.
Trump’s statement came days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced similar concerns in a telephone call with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The US had also sent a letter to Iraqi politicians saying that Washington views Al-Maliki negatively, political sources told AFP.
Iraq’s new premier will be expected to address Washington’s longstanding demand that Baghdad disarm Tehran-backed factions, many of which are designated terrorist groups by the United States.
Last month, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP that Washington demanded that the incoming government exclude Iran-backed armed groups.
Before Trump’s call, an Iraqi political source said that the Coordination Framework was set on moving forward with the nomination, believing that Al-Maliki could eventually allay Washington’s concerns.
Maliki “thinks differently today,” an Iraqi politician told AFP.
After decades of conflicts and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of stability.
But it is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US, which has already sanctioned several Iraqi entities, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions.
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