Damascus, March 29 -- Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday reinstated the post of Grand Mufti and established a new Supreme Fatwa Council, according to a decree released by the Syrian presidency.
Under Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2025, prominent cleric Sheikh Osama al-Rifa'i was appointed as Grand Mufti of Syria and named head of the newly-created council, which includes 15 senior scholars mostly from Damascus.
The council will be tasked with issuing religious edicts, advising on Islamic law, appointing provincial muftis, and guiding religious institutions nationwide.
In a statement published by the presidency, al-Sharaa said the reform is part of broader efforts to rebuild Syria's religious and civic institutions, noting that th...