Syrian President Grants General Amnesty

Damascus, Jan 16, IRNA -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree granting a general amnesty for crimes committed in the context of the events taking place since March 15, 2011 till the date of issuing the decree. IRNA reporter in Damascus quoted Syrian Arab News Agency as saying that the decree includes the crimes related to the laws on peaceful demonstration, carrying or possessing unauthorized weapons and ammunition and draft dodgers. Minister of Justice, Judge Tayseer Qala Awwad said that the decree aims to provide an opportunity for those committing crimes related to the events which has takn place since 15/03/2011, adding that the attorney generals and the public prosecutors were asked to implement the decree immediately. Syrian official press and TV indicated that “The fugitives cannot benefit from the decree unless they turn themselves in prior to January 31st 2012.” President al-Assad has issued several amnesties for prisoners since the start of the unrests in March as a result of which 552 detainees involved in protests on January 5th were released. Earlier on December 28th, the Syrian government had also released 755 prisoners detained over the past nine months as observers started tour of flashpoint cities in country to check whether authorities were complying with an Arab plan to stop the bloodshed. SANA said that previously, 912 arrested people were released in November 30, 2011, in addition to 1,180 people in November 15 and 553 in December 5, “all of whom were involved in the events but were not involved in the shedding of Syrian blood.”/end