Syria keeps role for Islamic law in 5-year transition

Syria kept a central role for Islamic law in a constitutional declaration issued on Thursday which guarantees women's rights and freedom of expression during a five-year transitional period, according to a summary read on TV.

The declaration is designed to serve as the foundation for the interim period being led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a Sunni Islamist who spearheaded a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad from power in December.

Islamic jurisprudence will be "the main source" of legislation, according to the summary read out during the signing ceremony. That seemed to differ from the previous constitution which called it "a main source" of legislation.

"We have kept Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation among sources of legislation," said the summary, read out by a member of the committee which drafted the declaration. "This jurisprudence is a true treasure that should not be squandered," it said.

Sharaa, who has promised to run Syria in an inclusive way, has been grappling with the biggest test of his leadership in the wake of a wave of sectarian killing in the coastal region, blamed on fighters aligned with his government.

He appointed the committee to draft the declaration less than two weeks ago.

The declaration guarantees women's "right to education and participation in work, and guaranteed them political rights" and provides "for freedom of opinion, expression, media, publication and the press," according to the summary.

"We hope that this will be a good start for the Syrian people on the path of construction and development," Sharaa said in televised remarks during the signing ceremony.

Sharaa in February said it would take four to five years to hold a presidential election.

Syria's previous constitution, which became law in 2012, was suspended in January.