Syria's New Constitutional Era Faces Sectarian Violence and Criticism

Ahmed al-Sharaa signs transitional constitution promoting rights, but sectarian tensions and Kurdish opposition challenge unity.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim leader, has signed a constitutional declaration outlining a five-year transitional period with provisions for women's rights, freedom of expression, and judicial independence.
The declaration repeals the Assad-era constitution and dissolves the previous parliament, but maintains Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation and requires the president to be Muslim.
Sectarian violence erupted on Syria's Mediterranean coast last week, with mass killings targeting Alawites and other minorities, resulting in over 1,400 civilian deaths according to observers.
The Kurdish administration criticized the new framework for failing to reflect Syria's ethnic and religious diversity, highlighting ongoing divisions within the country.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an impartial investigation into the violence and emphasized the need for an inclusive political transition to ensure accountability and national reconciliation.