The proposed new constitution does not represent the aspirations of the Syrian people, but rather reflects the will of the ruling authority that seeks to impose its exclusionary vision and maintain power indefinitely. It is not a document that establishes a modern state, but rather a new attempt to legitimize despotism and consolidate individual rule under a legal guise that serves the interests of a narrow group, while marginalizing large segments of Syrian society and undermining any real opportunity for democracy and pluralism.

The requirement that the President of the Republic must be a Muslim constitutes a clear violation of the principle of equal citizenship, as it excludes non-Muslims, and even Muslims who do not align with the authority’s imposed vision. This clause is nothing but an extension of discriminatory policies that have deepened divisions within society, and it is a breach of the concept of a civil state, which should be based on competence, not religious affiliation. Additionally, this condition represents clear discrimination against women, as it effectively denies them the right to run for this office, exposing the false claims of equality and justice in this constitution.

The most dangerous aspect of this constitution is the imposition of Islamic jurisprudence as a primary source of legislation, meaning that the country’s laws are subject to religious interpretations that may serve authoritarian agendas more than they serve the values of justice and freedom. Imposing a single religious reference on all Syrians, without considering the jurisprudential diversity within Islam itself and without respecting the rights of non-Muslims, undermines the foundations of a modern state, and provides the ruler with additional tools to restrict freedoms and legitimize political and social oppression.> Instead of establishing a state that recognizes all of its components, this constitution perpetuates policies of marginalization and exclusion against the Kurdish people and other Syrian components. Ignoring the rights of the Kurds in the constitution is a continuation of an exclusionary approach that only serves to fuel internal tensions, undermining any hope for a state based on justice and equality. Moreover, imposing Arabic as the sole official language without recognizing the Kurdish language reflects coercive assimilation policies aimed at erasing the cultural and linguistic identity of a vital segment of Syrian society, in blatant disregard of citizenship rights and denial of pluralism, which should be the cornerstone of any democratic system.

Politically, this constitution is merely another tool to cement individual rule and prolong the life of the regime. The transitional period, which lasts for five years without a clear limit on the number of presidential terms, gives the ruler the opportunity to bypass the democratic process and ensure their indefinite stay in power. Furthermore, the broad powers granted to the president, including the appointment of one-third of the members of the People’s Assembly, make this assembly a mere symbolic tool in the hands of the executive, thereby destroying any balance of power and rendering the democratic process meaningless.

We reject this constitution in its entirety, as it does not represent the will of the Syrian people and only serves to perpetuate the ruling regime through new mechanisms. Syria needs a constitution that reflects the aspirations of its people for freedom, justice, and equality, not a document used to reproduce tyranny. Imposing a constitution that excludes large segments of society, consolidates individual power, and disregards the foundations of pluralism will only lead to further division and instability and will be nothing more than another link in the long chain of oppression and tyranny that Syrians have suffered for too long.

We also call on the Syrian Kurds in all Kurdish areas, as well as around the world, to launch peaceful demonstrations against this exclusionary constitution that threatens their rights and undermines their cultural and linguistic identity. Rejecting this constitution is not limited to one group; it is the cause of the entire people. Their protests must be a free platform for expressing their rejection of continuous discrimination and injustice. The Kurds, both inside and outside Syria, must unite in their struggle for a constitution that recognizes their rights and guarantees their freedom to express their identity and actively participate in building a democratic and just future for Syria, free from exclusion and discrimination.

March 13, 2025 

Dr. Adnan Bozan

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