Syria issues general amnesty for fleeing citizens facing charges

Syria has announced a general amnesty for individuals charged with desertion, minor offenses, and certain violations committed before September 22, 2024. The decree, issued by regime leader Bashar Assad, allows citizens who fled abroad to return to Syria without facing prosecution.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), individuals must surrender within three months if they are in Syria or within four months if they are abroad to qualify for the amnesty.

The decree covers most offenses, but excludes serious crimes against the state and society, such as bribery, forgery, and crimes against public morality.

The last time Assad declared a general amnesty for deserters inside and outside the country was in January 2022.

Erdogan’s call for normalization

In related developments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a call for normalization in Syria during a speech on September 21, prior to his departure for the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He urged an end to the ongoing tensions, attributing regional instability to terrorist organizations and criticizing Israel’s role in what he described as state terrorism.

Erdogan noted a recent de-escalation between the Damascus government and opposition, suggesting it creates a conducive environment for a permanent resolution. “Millions of people outside Syria are waiting to return to their homeland,” he stated.

He reiterated Türkiye’s readiness to normalize relations with Syria and expressed hope for a response from Assad’s government. “We have made our call on this issue and are now awaiting a response from the other side,” Erdogan emphasized.