Cairo Institute for Human Rights Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for giving me this opportunity. My name is [inaudible], former Syrian judge. In December 2024, Syria witnessed a historic moment: the fall of the Assad regime. Most hoped it would lead to justice, freedom, and equal citizenship. However, this hope did not last long. As the new authorities soon adopted discriminatory practices, which excluded communities outside the Sunni Arab Muslim majority. These concerns escalated after serious violations carried out in the early stages of the transition. In March 2025, large-scale massacres targeted Alawite civilians. The UN commission of inquiry confirmed that they were widespread and were committed on sectarian grounds. Months later, similar atrocities were committed and [inaudible] against the Druze community. The factions of the Ministry of Defense are still preventing Kurdish people from returning to their homes in Afrin and [inaudible]. This pattern of exclusion was also reflected in the new constitutional declaration, which names the country the “Syrian Arab Republic” and requires that the president must be Muslim, which automatically excludes minority groups from political participation. Therefore, we respectfully recommend: starting an inclusive, true national dialogue involving all Syrian communities; amending constitutional declaration to adopt impartial, inclusive language, respecting Syria’s cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity; forming a transitional government that truly represents Syria’s diversity, not through symbolic or decorative appointments; implementing the agreement, which was signed with Syrian democratic forces, starting from the first item [cut off by Chair].

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