From Mardin University to the Syrian Parliament: Students' Success in the Political Arena

A New Shift in Syria's Post-Transition Political Structure As July 6, 2026, approaches—the date when the new Syrian parliament will hold its first session—interesting details regarding the composition of this term's representatives have been released. According to a report by the "Sirnak Ajans" news agency, among the 70 representatives appointed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the President of the Syrian transitional government, are individuals with deep ties to Turkish educational institutions [1]. These appointments are part of the effort to rebuild Syria's political structure following the fall of the former regime in December 2024.

Mardin University Elites in the People's Assembly According to published information, a total of four figures associated with Mardin Artuklu University (MAÜ) are present in the final list of the Syrian parliament. Media attention has focused on two active students of this university, "Maher Alloush" and "Yasser Dalwan," who are currently pursuing their studies and have now been elected as members of parliament [2]. In addition to these two students, "Ahmed Zeidan," a 2026 graduate of the same university, and Dr. "Abdulhamid al-Awak," a professor from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Mardin University, are also on the list [4].

Reaction of Academic Authorities and Regional Importance Professor Dr. Ibrahim Ozcosar, Rector of Mardin Artuklu University, expressed his satisfaction with this event, stating that the success of the university's members is a source of pride. In an official statement, he emphasized that the presence of academics and students from this center in the Syrian People's Assembly demonstrates the quality of education and the university's role in training elites for the region's future [1][2]. This also indicates Turkey's soft power influence on the state-building process in the new Syria, where scientific and academic expertise has been prioritized.

Parliament Composition and Next Steps The new Syrian parliament, scheduled to hold its first meeting tomorrow, Monday, July 6, 2026, consists of 210 seats. Of these, 140 representatives were chosen through electoral colleges, and 70 representatives were directly appointed by the presidency [3]. A notable point in Ahmed al-Sharaa's list of appointees is the strong presence of specialists; 47 out of these 70 individuals are university professors and experts, and 17 of them hold doctoral degrees [4]. This parliament is tasked with overseeing the process of drafting a new constitution and preparing the country for general elections over a period of 30 months.