19.02.2026 06:20
Syrian President Ahmad Shara announced a general amnesty with a decree published on the first day of Ramadan. The sentences of prisoners serving life sentences will be reduced to 20 years.
President Shara published a general amnesty decree. According to the decree, life sentences will be reduced to 20 years, temporary heavy prison sentences will be halved, and all penalties for misdemeanors and certain crimes will be lifted.
SOME CRIMES INCLUDED IN THE AMNESTY
With the general amnesty decree, crimes related to smuggling, certain cyber crimes, regulations regarding currency exchange offices, and some crimes under the law concerning transactions other than the Syrian pound have been included in the amnesty.
OBLIGATION TO SURRENDER WEAPONS WITHIN 3 MONTHS
In crimes involving weapons and ammunition, the entire penalty is waived on the condition that the weapons are surrendered to the authorized authorities within three months from the publication of the decree.
In kidnapping crimes, a condition was introduced for the voluntary and unconditional release of the victim and surrender within the specified time.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS INCLUDED
The decree also contains special provisions for those with serious health conditions and prisoners over a certain age. It has been reported that those with special circumstances due to health or age may benefit from the amnesty after evaluation by the relevant medical boards.
TORTURE AND SERIOUS CRIMES EXCLUDED FROM THE AMNESTY
On the other hand, crimes of torture, human trafficking, serious violations against the Syrian people, and some serious crimes have been excluded from the scope of the amnesty. There are examples in Arab countries where presidents have issued amnesty for a certain number of prisoners during the month of Ramadan.