Syria is an Asian country located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, sharing a border with Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon. The population of this country is approx 2,52,55,000 with 1,85,180 square kilometers area. Ethnically, 80 to 90 percent are Arabs, almost all of the rest are Kurds. The official language is Arabic. 94% are Muslim, of which 4 out of every 5 are Sunni. Other religious followers include Christians and Druze.
The French Mandate ended in 1946. Two years later, Syrian forces, along with other Arab states, entered Israel and attacked Jewish settlements. President Shukri al-Quwatli ordered his troops to exterminate Jews. Not only that, the Syrian government engaged in an active process of recruiting former Nazis. In 1958, Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli and Egypt's Nasser announced the unification of Egypt and Syria, creating the United Arab Republic. In 1961, a coup led to Syria's secession from the union with Egypt, bringing about the premature demise of this newly formed political union.
A coup d'état led by the Ba'ath Party in 1963 established a one-party state, which ruled Syria under martial law from 1963 to 2011. Under Hafez al-Assad, Syria became a hereditary dictatorship. Assad died in 2000 and was succeeded by his son Bashar al-Assad. Since the Arab Spring of 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a multi-faceted civil war, involving several countries, leading to their territorial defeat in central and eastern Syria in 2017. Subsequently, three political entities—the Syrian Interim Government, the Syrian Salvation Government, and the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria — emerged on Syrian territory to challenge Assad's rule. In late 2024, a series of offensives by a coalition of opposition forces led to the capture of Damascus and the fall of Assad's regime. Ahmed al-Sharaa has been serving as President of Syria since January 2025.
This Discussion on the Syrian Constitution is based on the 2025 version.
The Syrian regime ensures the separation of powers. All forms of division are prohibited. Cultural diversity is recognized. Trade will be based on competition, meaning monopolies are prohibited.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
According to the Syrian interim constitution, “Islamic jurisprudence is the principal source of legislation.” This decision alone is enough to dig the grave of democracy, because there is no room for debate in Islam. What was considered ‘correct’ 1400 years ago cannot be updated with the changing times.
Admirable Articles of Syria's Constitution
Article 2 – Political system
The state establishes a political system based on the principle of separation of powers, and guarantees freedom and dignity for the citizen.
Article 7 – The State’s objectives
1 - The State is committed to preserving the unity of Syrian territory, and criminalizes calls for division and secession, and requests for foreign intervention or external support.
2- The State is committed to achieving coexistence and societal stability, preserving civil peace, and preventing all forms of sedition, division, incitement to strife, and incitement to violence.
3. The State guarantees the cultural diversity of Syrian society in all its components, and the cultural and linguistic rights of all Syrians.
4. The State guarantees the fight against corruption.
Article 10 – Equality
Citizens are equal before the law in rights and duties, without discrimination based on race, religion, gender or lineage.
Article 11 – Economic principles
1. The national economy aims to achieve social justice, comprehensive economic development, increase production, and raise the standard of living for citizens.
2. The national economy is based on the principle of free and fair competition and the prevention of monopoly.
3. The state encourages investment and protects investors in an attractive legal environment.
Article 15 – Right to work
Work is a right for citizens, and the state guarantees the principle of equal opportunities for all citizens.
Article 16 – Private property, expropriation, natural resources
1. The right to private property is protected, and it may not be expropriated except for the public benefit and in return for fair compensation.
2. Ownership of public funds is protected and all natural wealth and its resources are public property. The state preserves, exploits and invests it for the benefit of society.
Article 17 – Due process
1. Punishment is personal, and there is no crime or punishment except by text.
2. The right to litigate, defend, and pursue appeals is protected by law. It is prohibited to stipulate in laws that any administrative action or decision is immune from judicial oversight.
3. The accused is innocent until proven guilty by a final court ruling.
Article 22 – Children
The State shall work to protect children from exploitation and abuse, and guarantee their right to education and health care.
Facts of Syria's Constitution
Article 3 – Islam, freedom of belief, personal status
1. The religion of the President of the Republic is Islam, and Islamic jurisprudence is the principal source of legislation.
2 - Freedom of belief is protected. The State respects all divine
religions and guarantees the freedom to perform all their rituals,
provided that this does not disturb public order.
3. The personal status of religious sects is protected and respected in accordance with the Law.
Article 25 – Removal
1. A member of the People's Assembly may not be removed except with the approval of two-thirds of its members.
2. A member of the People's Assembly enjoys parliamentary immunity.
Article 27 – Oath
Members of the People's Assembly shall take the oath before the President of the Republic, and the wording of the oath shall be: "I swear by Almighty God to perform my duties with honesty and sincerity."
Article 33 – Oath
The President of the Republic takes the constitutional oath before the People's Assembly. The oath shall be worded as follows: "I swear by Almighty God to faithfully uphold the sovereignty of the State, the unity of the country, the integrity of its territories, and the independence of its decision, and to defend them. I shall respect the law, safeguard the interests of the people, and strive with all sincerity and honesty to secure a decent life for them, achieve justice among them, and establish noble values and virtuous morals."
Article 35 – Cabinet composition, oath
1. The President of the Republic appoints ministers, dismisses them from their posts, and accepts their resignations.
2. Ministers take the oath before the President of the Republic. The oath is worded as follows: “I swear by Almighty God to perform my duties with honesty and loyalty.”
