A spokesman for Syria's victorious jihadist rebels said Thursday that the country's constitution and parliament will be suspended for a three-month “transition period” after which a new constitution will be enacted.
“A Justice and Human Rights Commission will be established to examine the constitution and propose amendments.” said Obaidah al-Nawout, a spokesperson for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the al-Qaeda splinter group whose rebels successfully ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad last weekend, said:
Arnaut spoke of “a government of salvation” (SG) created It was established in 2017 to administer territory captured by the HTS in northwestern Syria and is now the central government. Mohammed al-Bashir, head of Idlib's SG, has been named Syria's “interim” prime minister.
An HTS spokesperson said SG ministers and “former ministers” from Assad's regime will meet on Tuesday to discuss the “transition of power” during a three-month “transition period.”
“All those who committed crimes against the Syrian people will be brought to justice according to the law,” he said ominously.
Arnaut insisted that HTS intends to “preserve and protect” Syria's institutions and will “respect religious and cultural diversity” in running the new government.
Al Bashir said He said he had already met “members of the former government” on Wednesday and “will facilitate all necessary work over the next two months until we have a constitutional system in place that can serve the Syrian people.”
Photos of Bashir's meeting with Assad officials raised alarm as the meeting room decorations included jihadi flags. HTS is trying to convince both other Syrian organizations and the international community that it wants to establish a “moderate” Islamist government. Realizing their error, the group removed the jihadi flag from Bashir's subsequent appearances.
CNN on Friday quotation Idlib residents say Mr Bashir and the SG are relatively “pragmatic” in their approach to governance and seek to “distance themselves from their jihadist past and gain international recognition,” but their He said governance was “far from democratic or liberal.”
“I don't think the capacity of the government that we have seen is sufficient for the task of governing all of Syria,” said Dr. Walid Tamer, a self-described “liberal” and Idlib resident.
“Syria as a whole was a difficult place to live, but SG never interfered with my private life. Products were available and no restrictions were placed on my clothing or lifestyle,” Tamer said.
Other observers noted that the SG's leadership was appointed by the ruling Clergy Council and the HTS. leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani was not elected, and there were no women among them. SG’s “Four Principles of Governance” Includes Recognition of Islam sharia Law as the “sole source of legislation.”
