‘The constitutional declaration ignores ethnic groups in Syria’

Women of Damascus think the constitutional declaration approved by Syria’s interim government ignores ethnic and religious groups in Syria, defining it as “an unfair exclusion” against the multiple identities of Syria.

  • actual
  • Friday, 18 Apr 2025, 09:30

RAMA HALAF

Damascus-Reactions against the constitutional declaration approved by Syria’s interim government, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), continues. First Article of the constitutional declaration defines Syria as an Arab republic, excluding non-Arab ethnic groups in the country.

The word “Arab” in Syria's official name was shaped by the influence of Arab nationalism in the mid-20th century, when the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party came to power in a 1963 coup. This situation led to the systematic ignoring and exclusion of Kurds, Syriacs (Assyrians), Armenians, Circassians, Turkmens and other ethnic groups in the country. Many people think that the same monist mentality will maintain in the country since the same name is mentioned in the constitutional declaration.

NuJINHA spoke to women in Damascus about the constitutional declaration.

‘The constitution should be redrafted to meet the demands of all identities’

“Syria has many cultural and ethnic groups,” said Iman Ramazan, a Kurdish woman living in Damascus. “As a Kurd, I have the right to express my ethnic identity just like Circassians and Armenians. Therefore, the constitution should be redrafted to meet the demands of all identities in Syria.”

‘The name of the country must be redefined’

Sîvan Hac Ali recalled the uprising against the discriminatory and exclusionary policies of the 54-year-old Assad regime and said:

“The approved constitutional declaration does not meet the expectations. The Syrian people have protested against this exclusionary attitude of the interim government because not only Arabs but also Kurds, Syriacs and Armenians live in this country. The official name of the country must be redefined. We need a new name recognizing all ethnic and religious groups in the country.”

The approval of the constitutional declaration by the government on March 13 sparked protests and discussions in the country. Some believe that the name of the country must be changed for reaching a national reconciliation and ending monist nationalism in the country.