The upcoming poll on Sunday to choose Syria’s first post Bashar Al Assad parliament lacks wide representation, but will eventually provide for a more pluralistic system as part of a five-year transition from the old regime, a member of an official commission overseeing the process told The National.
“We are not saying this is the ideal model. But it is the possible one at this stage and it guarantees the gains of the Syrian Revolution,” said Muhamed Wali, one of the 11 members of the Higher Committee for the People's Assembly Elections, appointed by President Ahmad Al Shara in June.
Mr Wali said it is crucial to bring in the legislature as quickly as possible to amend laws enacted by the former “ruling gang”, which employed parliament to create a “system of corruption”. Without legal reform, accountability will remain weak and Syria cannot recover, he said, expecting the 210-member assembly to be sworn in this month.
Voting and running for the new parliament has been limited to 6,050 people appointed by the commission, after it held consultations with local communities, and took into consideration the diversity of Syria, Mr Wali said. Lack of updated national data, problems Syrians have with personal documents, mostly relics of the civil war, as well as instability, have prevented wider elections, he said.
Among the 6,050 people who will vote, 1,578 have also declared themselves as candidates for 140 seats. Mr Al Shara will directly appoint the rest of the 210-member body.
Mr Al Wali would not be drawn on the religious and ethnic composition of the 6,050 electors and the candidates among them.
"They reflect Syrian society", he said in an interview with The National.
Around a quarter of the mostly Sunni population were ethnic or religious minorities before the 2011 civil war, when the population numbered around 22 million.
One candidate, an Alawite, was assassinated this week in his home region of Tartus on the Alawite coast, the heartland of the minority sect whose members dominated Syria for six decades.
Back in March 2011, the country became the last in the wave of Arab uprisings. The authorities killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on a peaceful protest movement, and by the end of the year, Syria was in civil war.
In December 2024, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a splinter group of Al Qaeda headed by current Syrian leader Ahmad Al Shara, ousted the former regime, ushering Sunni political ascendancy. Syria also became the only country among the Arab uprisings where the security apparatus completely collapsed and was replaced by a new one.
Following a 'national dialogue' conference earlier this year, Mr Al Shara started a transition from authoritarianism. However, he did not make an outright commitment to democracy, amid mass sectarian killings by forces loyal to his government.
The bloodshed encouraged demands by minorities in the south and east of the country for self administration, which he has rejected. The poll on Sunday will exclude the mostly Druze province of Sweida and areas in the north and east of the country under the control of the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces SDF.
“We want people in parliament who reflect the (political) reality, and the sacrifices of Syrians," Mr Wali said, adding that the new legislature will not have anyone who "supported the former regime or belongs to terrorist groups”.
The assembly will have a lifespan of 30 months, which can be renewed for another 30. However, it will name a committee to draft a new constitution “to allow for free, direct and general elections for the parliament and the presidency,” said Mr Wali, without predicting a timetable.
Syria has not had a comprehensive, democratic election in decades.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Naga
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
