Syrian President issues general amnesty, reduces some sentences
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued on Wednesday a new legislative decree granting a general amnesty for certain crimes and reducing penalties for others, according to an official announcement released in Damascus.
The decree, numbered (39) for the year 2026, stipulates a general amnesty covering crimes committed prior to the date of its issuance, in accordance with provisions detailed in the text.
According to the decree, sentences of life imprisonment will be reduced to temporary imprisonment for a period of 20 years. Likewise, life detention penalties will be commuted to temporary detention lasting 20 years.
The decree also outlines specific legal exceptions related to personal damages resulting from criminal acts. It states that sentence reductions will not apply to felonies that caused personal harm unless the affected party waives their personal right.
The text clarified that the payment of court-ordered compensation alone does not constitute a waiver of personal rights, meaning reductions cannot be implemented solely on the basis of financial settlements.
Additionally, the decree grants affected individuals a three-month period from the date of issuance to file personal claims if they have not already done so. If no claim is submitted within that timeframe, the provisions related to sentence reductions will automatically come into effect as stipulated in the decree.