Protests in al-Hasakah against Syria's transitional declaration

By Al Mayadeen English

Protests erupt in SDF-controlled al-Hasakah after Syria's transitional president signed the constitutional declaration, rejecting his consolidation of power.  

On Friday, several cities in Syria's al-Hasakah province, under Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control, saw widespread protests following the signing of Syria’s constitutional declaration by Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of the transitional administration. The declaration establishes a five-year transitional period, centralizing all power in the hands of the president, with no oversight, sparking rejection from the Kurdish community who called for a review of the declaration.

Al-Sharaa signed the draft constitutional declaration after receiving it from the Committee of Legal Experts, which was responsible for its creation.

Protesters, mainly Syrian Kurds, held banners condemning the exclusionary practices of the new government, which has sidelined Syrian communities from the national dialogue and the committee that drafted the constitutional declaration. They voiced their rejection of marginalization policies, which they viewed as a continuation of the previous regime's tactics.

Demonstrators urged foreign and Arab nations to intervene to end the exclusion of Syria's ethnic and sectarian groups, calling for the repeal of such decisions and advocating for inclusive governance. 

Calls to reject the declaration 

Ahmed al-Hajji, a protester, told Al Mayadeen Net that the constitutional declaration reflects the exclusionary approach of the Baath Party, particularly through the insistence on naming the country the "Syrian Arab Republic" rather than the "Syrian Republic" and adopting Islamic jurisprudence as the foundation for legislation, despite Syria’s diverse religious and sectarian composition. He also raised concerns about the prolonged transitional period and the concentration of power in the president's hands without accountability, warning that it could pave the way for a return to a dictatorial regime.

Malva Khaled condemned "the massacres committed against Alawites in Syria," emphasizing the urgent need for accountability to prevent such atrocities from recurring against other Syrian communities. She described the constitutional declaration as "exclusionary," arguing that it fails to represent all Syrians and does not reflect the sacrifices made by the people over the past years.

Khaled further asserted that "this authority must change its approach towards other components, recognizing them as partners in nation-building" and "abandon the policy of 'whoever liberates, whoever decides,' which will lead to harmful consequences."

Aldar Mohammad criticized the constitutional declaration as "a direct attack on the agreement between General Abdi and al-Sharaa," built on integration and partnership. He further stated that the declaration "does not promote partnership but rather perpetuates power monopolies, establishing a new dictatorship."

Mohammad called on the SDF, the Autonomous Administration, and other Syrian factions, to take a firm stance against the exclusionary measures outlined in the constitutional declaration. He emphasized that "everyone has a stake in Syria's future, and the country must prioritize inclusivity—otherwise, the future will be grim."

Adminisatration, SDF, Kurds 

In response, the Autonomous Administration, the SDF, and the Kurdish National Council issued statements criticizing the declaration. They voiced concerns that it could pave the way for a more centralized and authoritarian regime, surpassing even the previous one. They called for a revision of the declaration and proposed the formation of a committee composed of diverse social, religious, and ethnic groups to create a comprehensive, democratic constitutional framework that would guide Syria's political transition.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria condemned the constitutional declaration, describing it as "inconsistent with Syria's reality and diverse landscape," and pointing out provisions that echo those of the former regime. In a statement, the Administration stressed that the declaration "overlooks the inclusion of all Syrian components, from Kurds to Arabs, and adopts a style reminiscent of the old regime's methods."

The Autonomous Administration further argued that the declaration "fails to reflect the aspirations of our people" and hinders efforts toward true democracy, offering instead a framework that stifles progress. It cautioned that the resurgence of narrow practices and ideas would "only reopen the Syrian wound and cause it to bleed once more."

Kurdish party finds declaration 'disappointing'

Similarly, the Kurdish National Council criticized the declaration as "disappointing and far removed from the goal of building a democratic state that authentically represents Syria's diverse population. The Council pointed out that the declaration was drafted by a committee that did not include representatives from the full spectrum of Syria's political, ethnic, and religious groups, leading to a lack of inclusivity and national consensus. They argued that this exclusionary approach merely reinforces the concentration of power.

The Council also expressed concern that the declaration strengthens a centralized government by granting the president broad powers without ensuring proper separation of powers or institutional checks, raising fears of a return to authoritarianism. Additionally, they criticized the five-year transitional period, arguing that it "lacks guarantees for fair participation," turning it into a mechanism for maintaining the status quo rather than fostering meaningful political change.

The Kurdish National Council called for the declaration to be "reconsidered in a way that promotes political and national pluralism." The draft constitutional declaration asserts that "Islamic jurisprudence will be the primary source of legislation" and that the head of state must be Muslim. It also emphasizes a commitment to a complete separation of powers.

According to the draft, the People's Assembly is granted full legislative authority, while the President of the Republic is entrusted with executive power, including the authority to declare a state of emergency.