Deyaa Alrwishdi

Guest Author

Deyaa Alrwishdi (Bluesky – LinkedIn – X) is a doctoral candidate and fellow at Harvard Law School, specializing in public international law, human rights, and the laws of war. With over a decade of experience in legal development and project management in conflict zones, his research focuses on the role of private actors in exercising sovereign functions during governmental failures. His broader academic interests include constitutionalism, constitutional design, and the interplay between law and government. Before the Syrian conflict, Mr. Alrwishdi served as Legal Deputy at the Syrian Construction and Establishment Institute, where he provided strategic leadership, oversaw policy compliance, and guided institutional staff. In the wake of the Syrian uprising, he dedicated himself to defending human rights on both national and international fronts. This included directly representing activists detained at protests and meticulously documenting human rights abuses across Syria. An active figure in Syrian civil society, Mr. Alrwishdi founded the Free Syrian Lawyers Association and the Center for Rule of Law and Good Governance. These initiatives aim to amplify Syrian civil society voices and ensure a transition to justice in post-conflict scenarios. His contributions to human rights and civil society have been recognized on several occasions. He received the Rubin International Human Rights Award from Stanford Law School and the Alumni Fund Scholarship from American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL). Mr. Alrwishdi holds an LL.B. from Damascus University, an LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from AUWCL, an M.P.A. from American University Schools of Public Affairs, and an LL.M. in Public Law from Harvard Law School.