Damascus: Syrian legal experts and members of the committee drafting the constitutional declaration have underscored the declaration's importance as a legitimate measure to oversee Syria's transitional phase and guide the country toward stability and reconstruction, especially with the absence of an active constitution, while limiting the declaration's jurisdiction to the interim period before a permanent constitution is adopted.
According to Qatar News Agency, the constitutional declaration will be a concise document focusing on key principles for managing the transition period, without delving into the details expected to appear in the eventual permanent constitution, which will be ratified through a general referendum. They noted that the declaration will provide a legal framework defining the foundations of governance and safeguarding rights and freedoms during the transitional phase. It should also be rooted in the ideals of the Syrian revolution and ensure the rights of all segments of Syrian society. They added that it reflects the will of the Syrian people, upholding pluralism, citizenship, institutions, and the rule of law.
Dr. Abdulhamid Al Awak, a member of the committee drafting the constitutional declaration, emphasized the critical importance of finalizing this document during the transition and is working tirelessly to do so. He explained to QNA that the committee has consulted various sources in preparing the declaration, seeking to address the exceptional circumstances in which state authorities will operate.
Meanwhile, Khaled Shehabuddin, head of the Syrian Lawyers Commission, offered his perspective on the upcoming declaration, emphasizing that it should remain a temporary measure. Speaking to QNA, he underscored the need for the drafting committee to avoid assuming responsibilities beyond its mandate, clarifying that this document merely governs the transitional stage and does not require a referendum, in contrast to a permanent constitution. He noted that the transitional declaration draws its authority from both revolutionary and popular legitimacy, as well as the declaration of victory.
Firas Haj Yahya, an academic and researcher at the Syrian Institution for Studies and Public Opinion Research, predicted that the constitutional declaration would be a concise document focusing on fundamental principles for managing the transitional phase without delving into details, which would be left for the future permanent constitution to be ratified through a general referendum. Speaking to QNA, Haj Yahya suggested that the constitutional declaration may consist of no more than 40 articles.
Khaled Shabib, Director of the Higher Institute of Justice, told QNA that the temporary constitutional declaration should affirm the Syrian people's right to self-determination and respond to the exceptional circumstances the country is going through. Shabib emphasized that justice must be the cornerstone of governance, with all Syrian citizens enjoying equal rights and responsibilities.
Legal expert Abdul Nasser Houshan described the constitutional declaration as a temporary document that governs the transition phase and differs from the permanent constitution in several aspects. He explained that while a permanent constitution serves a stable state, a constitutional declaration is an interim measure that guides the transition from a de facto government which assumed power following the revolution toward a permanent constitutional framework. Speaking to QNA, Houshan added that a permanent constitution is drafted by an elected, multidisciplinary committee representing a broad spectrum of society, while a constitutional declaration is prepared by a specialized expert committee.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa recently tasked a seven-member committee with drafting the constitutional declaration as part of efforts to regulate the political transition in Syria. This initiative aligns with the Syrian people's aspirations to build a state based on the rule of law and is in accordance with the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference. Syrians hold high hopes for the forthcoming constitutional declaration, viewing it as a crucial step toward political stability and the establishment of a modern democratic state.