CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER & MIDDLE EAST EXPERT CONSULTANT & ADVISOR MEDIA APPEARANCES PUBLICATIONS ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT ABOUT
Dr Naseef Naeem
German lawyer and expert on state law and constitutional matters in the Middle East
"A paradigm shift regarding the collective identity of the state is required in order to stabilise statehood within the Arab region.”
Dr Naseef Naeem
Publications
The State and its Foundations in the Arab Republics: A Contextualisation of Recent Constitutional Developments From Comparative Perspectives, 2019
The new federal system of Iraq: a legal comparative study, Frankfurt a. M., Peter Lang Publisher, 2008
Law Journal: Jahrbuch für Verfassung, Recht und Staat im islamischen Kontext
2011
Law Journal: Jahrbuch für Verfassung, Recht und Staat im islamischen Kontext
2012/2013
Research Director & Consultant on the Middle East
Dr Naeem works as research director at the zenithCouncil, a research and consultancy network.
Until early 2018, Dr Naeem led the Peace Support Programme in Yemen run by Germany’s development agency (GIZ).
As part of this role, he compiled reports and analysis to aid economic and political decision-making.
As a mediator, Naeem initiated the Syrian Charter in 2017, moderated the meetings of its council (2018-2024), and also moderated the workshops of the Iraqi National Dialogue and the Advisory
Project on the Reform of the Iraqi Constitution (2020-2025).
Middle East expert in the media
Naeem is a sought-after interview partner on key Middle East issues, such as the Secret Syria Negotiations or Syria: Why Many View the Elections Critically.
In public media, he appeared several times, including on Phoenix Roundtable programs such as Coup in Syria, How Weakened Is Putin?, War in the Middle East - What Can Bring Peace?, and Israel and Palestine - How Realistic Is a Two-State Solution?
About
He taught at the University of Göttingen as well as at the Free University of Berlin (see teaching activities) and has a strong academic commitment.
He also gives lectures at conferences and professional associations on current topics related to countries of the Middle East (e.g., Syria, Iraq).
Current Activities
Interview: Expert on Elections in Syria, in Profil, 15 September 2025
Leadership: Syrian Task Force for Needs Assessment (21 February - 30 June 2025), areas of work: constitutional process, administration, judiciary, media, and
energy
Article: What Is in Syria’s New Constitution?, in Zenith Online, 17 March 2025
Interview: Syrian Constitutional Expert: It Seems the Rebels Are Currently Acting Strictly According to the Constitution, 9 December 2024
Podcast: This Is How a Solution for Gaza Could Look, in FAZ, 8 December 2023