Al Shara signs constitutional declaration, promising 'new history for Syria'

Document stipulates freedom of expression, women’s right to education and state’s commitment to unity of the land

Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara on Thursday signed the country's constitutional declaration, which will be enforced throughout a five-year transitional period.

Mr Al Shara said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the start of “a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice” as he signed the document.

A key goal of the interim constitution is to provide a timeline for the country’s political transition out of its interim phase. In December, Mr Al Shara said it could take up to three years to rewrite Syria’s constitution and up to five years to organise and hold elections.

The declaration is designed to serve as the foundation for the interim period being led by Mr Al Shara, who led a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar Al Assad from power in December.

President Ahmad Al Shara receives Syria's constitutional declaration, which will be enforced through a five-year transitional period. AP

Islamic jurisprudence will be “the main source” of legislation, according to the summary read out during the signing ceremony. That seemed to differ from the previous constitution which called it “a main source” of legislation.

“We have kept Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation among sources of legislation,” said the summary, read out by a member of the committee which drafted the declaration. “This jurisprudence is a true treasure that should not be squandered."

Under the new constitution, the country's parliament will undertake the entire legislative process and executive authority will be exercised by the President, the committee drafting the constitutional declaration said.

It stipulates freedom of opinion, expression, media, publication and the press, the committee said. The declaration stresses the importance of judges, their rulings and their independence. It also guarantees the right to property ownership, women's right to education and participation in the workforce, and guarantees their political rights, the committee added.

It also affirms the state's commitment to the unity of the land and people, and respect for the country's cultures, the committee said.

A new committee to draft a permanent constitution will be formed, but it is unclear if it will be more inclusive of Syria's political, religious and ethnic groups.

Mr Al Shara on Monday reached a pact with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in north-eastern Syria, which included a ceasefire and merging of SDF armed forces with the central government's security agencies.

The deal came after government forces and allied groups fought gunmen loyal to Mr Al Assad over the last week, killing hundreds of civilians – mostly from the Alawite minority sect to which Mr Al Assad belongs – in retaliatory attacks by factions in the counter-offensive.

The Kurdish-led administration in the north-east on Thursday criticised the constitutional declaration, saying it does not reflect the country's diversity.

The declaration "contradicts the reality of Syria and its diversity", the administration said, adding that it "lacks the spirit of Syria's people and its various components from Kurds to Arabs, as well as Syriacs, Assyrians and other Syrian national components".

Mr Al Shara's government also struck a deal with the Druze minority on Wednesday, but still faced strong criticism from the group's spiritual leader, who described the authorities in Damascus as "extremist".

"There is no concord with the existing government in Damascus. It is an extremist government in every sense of the word," video shared online showed Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri telling a Druze delegation in Suweida, footage verified by one of his aides.

The Druze leader, long an opponent of former president Mr Al Assad, has demanded a civil state. On Wednesday he witnessed the signing of an agreement with Mr Al Shara's government that "all armed factions be organised into the Ministry of Defence".

Mr Al Shara appointed a committee to draft the new constitution after Syria held a national dialogue conference last month, which called for a temporary constitution and holding interim parliamentary elections. Critics said the hastily-organised conference did not include Syria's various ethnic and sectarian groups or civil society.

The US and Europe have been hesitant to lift harsh sanctions imposed on Syria during the Assad regime until they are convinced that the new leaders will create an inclusive political system and protect minorities. Mr Al Shara and regional governments have been urging them to reconsider, fearing that the country's crumbling economy could suffer further instability.

Canada partially heeded that call on Thursday, announcing plans to ease sanctions and provide $58 million in funding for humanitarian assistance.

Qatar on Thursday moved to help Syria address its economic issues, by beginning to supply the country with natural gas through Jordan. The new supply will enable the initial generation of 400 megawatts of electricity a day, powering regions including Damascus and its countryside, Suweida, Deraa, Quneitra, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, Aleppo and Deir Ezzor, the Qatar Fund for Development said.