Syria has preserved key elements of its previous constitution in a constitutional declaration signed on Thursday, including the recognition of Islamic law as the primary source of jurisprudence and the requirement that the head of state be a Muslim.

“We have kept Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation among sources of legislation,” says the summary of the constitutional declaration. “This jurisprudence is a true treasure that should not be squandered,” it says. 

The constitutional declaration serves as the foundation for the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a Sunni Islamist who led the swift offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December.

The declaration also guarantees women’s right “to education and participation in work,” freedom of expression, and media freedom, though enforcement remains uncertain.

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

The announcement comes amid recent sectarian violence in Syria involving the Alawite and Druze communities. 

In January, Syria announced the dissolution of the military, security agencies, and parliament, marking the most significant restructuring of governance since the fall of Assad. The new government also nullified the 2012 Syrian Constitution, effectively removing the previous legal framework governing the country.

While the transitional government has pledged to hold elections and rewrite the Syrian constitution, the timeline remains unclear. Sharaa estimates it will take up to three years to draft a permanent constitution and five years to hold elections. 

Earlier this week, Sharaa reached a ceasefire with the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, merging their troops with Syria’s security agencies.