Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed members of the Supreme Constitutional Court. The ceremony took place on Saturday at the People's Palace in Damascus.
The court's president, Dr. Issam al-Halif, and its members were appointed by Presidential Decree No. 149 issued by President al-Sharaa on July 7, 2026. The decree appointed the following members: Counselor Judge Hayrullah Nedim Gannum, Counselor Judge Mohammed Mustafa Subey', Counselor Judge Iman Antoine Nouri, Dr. Ismail Hammadi al-Halfan, Dr. Ri'an Hasan Kehilan, and lawyer Arif Ahmed al-Sha'al.
Court's jurisdiction
According to the official decree, the court's interim duties were defined pending the enactment of a law regulating its working procedures. These duties include reviewing the constitutionality of laws and regulations, and providing opinions on the constitutionality of draft laws at the request of the President.
The court will also provide opinions on the constitutionality of legislative proposals and interpret the texts of the Constitutional Declaration upon application by the President or the Speaker of the People's Assembly.
Basis of the new structure
The establishment of the new court is based on Article 47 of the Constitutional Declaration issued in March 2025. This article stipulates the dissolution of the existing Supreme Constitutional Court and the formation of a new court in its place. According to the article, the court consists of seven members appointed by the President.
The formation of the Supreme Constitutional Court took place less than a week after Muhammad Taha al-Ahmed, head of the Higher Committee for the People's Assembly elections, announced the complementary assembly members appointed by President al-Sharaa.
