Biography

Dr. Sanaa Alsarghali holds the distinction of being the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Constitutional Law in Palestine. Furthermore, she serves as the 9th member of the Palestinian drafting committee, a position to which she was appointed by the Palestinian National Council in 2019. In July 2020 UNESCO approved the appointment of Dr. Alsarghali as the new holder of UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace hosted by An-Najah National University. In 2019 she co-founded the Constitutional Studies Center where she is the director. 

Sanaa ‎received her PhD from Lancaster University, an LLM in law from Durham University-UK, and a BA in Law from An-Najah National University, Palestine. Alsarghali’s work focuses on the Semi-Presidential System’s application in Palestine, and constitution making process. She is a fellow at SEPAD (Sectarianism, Proxies & De-sectarianisation) and Richardson Institute for political studies in the UK. Her research with SEPAD is focused on sectarianism issues and constitutional identity in the Middle East. 

In 2018 Dr. Alsarghali was elected as the Chairwoman of ‘Women, Media and Development’ (TAM), ‎an NGO that intends to change the stereotypical image of the Palestinian women in the ‎Media. Previously, she worked with TAM as a TV presenter through Al Fajer TV local station. Her ‎social and political talk show 'TAM Time' was screened on the Palestinian National TV for ‎two years.  ‎ 

In December 2018 Sanaa received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Lancaster ‎University. The Alumni Award recognizes Lancaster graduates who have made a ‎substantial contribution in their field and have developed an outstanding national or ‎international reputation amongst their peers. Dr. Alsarghali has been awarded with many prestigious research fellowships and among them is The Kathleen Fitzpatrick Visiting Fellow in ‎Constitutional Law at Melbourne University in 2019. 

Her book, States of Exception or Exceptional States Law, Politics and Giorgio Agamben in the Middle East  was published by I. B. Tauris,  London in August 2022, where she is a lead editor and academic contributor in a chapter titled: A Forced Marriage? Palestine and the State of Exception”.

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Education
Institution
lancaster University
Country
United Kingdom
Degree
PhD
Faculty
law
Department
law
Thesis
An analysis of the Palestinian Basic Law in light of Constitutionalism theory
Speciality
law
Sub speciality
Duration
2011 - 2015
Institution
Durham University
Country
United Kingdom
Degree
MSc
Faculty
law
Department
law
Thesis
Freedom of expression in emerging states- case study Palestine
Speciality
law
Sub speciality
Duration
2009 - 2010
Institution
An-Najah National University
Country
Palestine
Degree
Diploma
Faculty
law
Department
Law
Thesis
law
Speciality
law
Sub speciality
Duration
2005 - 2009
Employment History
Country
United Kingdom
Institution
Lancaster University
Position/Job Description
Associate Lecturer
Period
Jan. 9, 2012 - Sept. 30, 2014
Country
Palestine
Institution
An-najah
Position/Job Description
Assistant professor
Period
Feb. 14, 2016 - Oct. 20, 2017
Country
United Kingdom
Institution
Richardson Institute
Position/Job Description
Visiting research fellow
Period
May 26, 2017 - Aug. 11, 2017
Country
Palestine
Institution
An-Najah
Position/Job Description
lecturer
Period
Oct. 1, 2010 - Jan. 31, 2010
Country
Australia
Institution
Melbourne University
Position/Job Description
Kathleen Fitzpatrick Visiting Fellow in ‎Constitutional Law
Period
July 15, 2021 - July 15, 2021
Country
Palestine
Institution
Unesco chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace
Position/Job Description
Chair holder
Period
July 15, 2020 - July 15, 2021
Country
Palestine
Institution
An Najah university
Position/Job Description
Co-founder and Director of the Constitutional Studies Center
Period
Jan. 2, 2019 - July 15, 2021
Country
Palestine
Institution
Women Media and Development
Position/Job Description
Chairperson of Board of Directors
Period
July 15, 2021 - July 15, 2021
Publications