Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa was born in October 1982 in Saudi Arabia, where he spent the first seven years of his life. In a rare photograph of him as a child, found in a dossier compiled by Assad’s intelligence services, Sharaa has the same unsmiling, enigmatic expression he is often seen wearing today.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

Syria's new constitutional declaration maintains Islamic law as central during a transitional period under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. It ensures women's rights and freedom of expression. The declaration marks a shift from the former constitution and supports an inclusive governance approach,

The document enshrines separation of powers and guarantees women's rights, freedom of expression and media freedom.

Syria’s interim president has signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase

Religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the US and Europe, are wary about freedom of expression protections