Law of Syria

The judicial system of Syria is a synthesis of Ottoman, French, and Islamic law. Its civil, commercial, and criminal codes derive mainly from French legal practice, promulgated in 1949 with special provisions limiting the application of customary law among Bedouin and religious minorities, while a 1955 personal status code modified and modernized sharia by improving the legal status of women and clarifying inheritance law. Courts run from the Court of Cassation in Damascus down through courts of appeal and courts of first instance, including magistrate, summary, and peace courts, alongside specialized juvenile, administrative, military, and security courts, with the Supreme Judicial Council, historically chaired by the president, responsible for judicial appointments and discipline; under the 2025 Constitutional Declaration the judiciary is stated to be independent, with judges subject only to the law.