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On Monday, Syrian President Bashar Assad announced “general amnesty” for all “crimes” committed to a date, state television said.
The amnesty decree, announced only a week after the controversial election he won amid raging conflict across the country, for the first time extends amnesty to those accused to be terrorists under the controversial July 2012 anti-terrorism law. The Syrian government had dubbed everyone opposing Assad’s rule, including peaceful activists, as “terrorists”, and had used the rule to imprison popular dissidents.
Should amnesty be applied, the tens of thousands of people imprisoned by the regime are expected to be released.
This is also the first amnesty which offers clemency to foreign jihadists, as long as they turn themselves in within 30 days. Rights groups remain cautious, as previous amnesties have still not been fully implemented due to which tens of thousands are still in jail; however, previous amnesties excluded “fugitives” and “terrorists”.
Statenews agency SANA published the entire decree, saying those accused of “plotting, meaning those who carried out terrorist acts or set up a group aimed at changing the economic or social… nature of the state” will be given a full pardon. It also promised a pardon for those who “plotted to carry out any crime” listed under the anti-terrorism law, and to those accused of joining “a terrorist organization or of forcing someone to… join a terrorist organization”.
The amnesty will also cover people accused of “weakening national sentiment” and those accused of “inciting… an armed rebellion against the authorities”. Also included are people who “promoted terrorist acts” – a phrase frequently used by the government to justify the imprisonment of media personnel work for the opposition or independently. Additionally, those who had deserted from the Syrian army will be given a full pardon if they turn themselves in within 3 months of the decree.