Syria's transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday signed a decree granting general amnesty for some crimes and reducing sentences for others.
Modern.az reports, citing foreign media, that the Syrian leader stated: “Law No. 39 of 2026 declares a general amnesty for crimes committed before the date of issuance of this decree, in accordance with the provisions specified therein.”
According to the decree, life sentences have been reduced to a term of 20 years. The statement noted that the reduction does not apply to serious crimes causing personal harm if the victim does not waive their rights. If a personal claim has not been filed, victims have been given a three-month period from the issuance of the decree to do so, otherwise the sentence reduction applies.
The decree also provides for full exemption from permanent or temporary sentences for individuals suffering from incurable fatal diseases who require assistance, or those aged 70 and above, taking into account specified conditions and exceptions.
The statement says that the amnesty covers penalties and violations for all minor crimes, as well as certain serious crimes under special laws, including those related to narcotics, smuggling, financial control, illegal currency transactions, smuggling of subsidized goods, and consumer protection. It also applies to certain serious crimes committed before December 8, 2024, in addition to selected articles of the Military Criminal Code and the Cybercrime Law.
The decree grants conditional amnesty for some crimes, including those related to weapons, provided that the weapons are surrendered within three months. This document provides for a fifty percent reduction in temporary criminal sentences in accordance with specified conditions, as well as the abolition of all rehabilitation and care measures applied to minors.
