Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued an amnesty on May 2nd to commute or exonerat eligible criminals.
According to the amnesty, the amnesty applies to persons who commit crimes before 2 May 2021, and those who meet the required conditions will be exempted from punishment or reduced sentences for crimes involving juvenile delinquency, desertion of military service, etc. Pardons do not include smuggling of weapons and explosives, treason, espionage, etc.
Bashar has issued several amnesty decrees since the start of the Syrian crisis. The amnesty was issued against the backdrop of Syria’s upcoming presidential elections.
Syria’s parliament announced on April 18th that presidential elections were scheduled for May and that Bashar had applied to be a candidate.
