After a long wait, Syria witnesses the first steps of political transition
Ahmed Al-Shara’a, head of the transitional phase in Syria, announced the formation of a committee of constitutional and legal experts consisting of seven members. Their task is to draft a constitutional declaration to regulate the transitional phase in the country, based on the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference. The formation aims to “establish the foundations of the rule of law” and ensure a political transition after years of crisis.
The committee includes prominent Syrian academics in constitutional and legal fields, among them Dr. Ahmed Korbi (Professor of Public Law at the University of Aleppo and Human Rights Expert), Dr. Abdul Hamid Al-Awak (specialist in Constitutional Law and Transitional Justice), Dr. Bahia Mardini (academic and journalist specialized in International Law from the University of Northampton, UK), Dr. Yasser Al-Hwish (Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Damascus), Dr. Ismail Al-Khalfan (Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Aleppo), Dr. Rayan Kahilan (Head of the Public Law Department at the University of Damascus), and Dr. Muhammad Rida Jalakhi (Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Damascus).
According to the decision, the committee will prepare the constitutional draft in the coming period, considering the principles of transitional justice, the requirements of building a rule-of-law state, and respecting freedoms. The final proposals will be submitted to the head of the transitional phase for official adoption.**
The announcement stated that this step “comes within the efforts to establish a sustainable legal framework for the transitional phase, laying the foundation for a new Syria based on national partnership and respect for human rights,” noting that the committee’s work will be based on the recommendations of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference.**
It is noteworthy that the formation of the committee is considered the first practical step to implement the outcomes of the national dialogue, amid expectations of challenges related to harmonizing political and legal visions, especially on issues like administrative decentralization and the structuring of authorities.
