By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria — On a day where the anniversary of the 1946 withdrawal of French troops was commemorated, President Bashar al-Assad issued general amnesty for crimes committed in Syria before April 16.  Under the amnesty, those who fought for opposition forces will serve only a quarter of their original sentence if found guilty for war crimes.

The Syrian state-run newspaper, SANA, reported that “President Assad has issued decree number 23, granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before April 16, 2013.”  The amnesty also replaces death sentences to life imprisonment with hard labor.  Prisoners with advanced age or incurable diseases will be pardoned, and rebels who turn over their weapons will also be pardoned.  The decree does not apply to those found guilty of smuggling weapons, or serving time for drug-related crimes.

While the decree grants a reduced sentence to rebel fighters, the decree itself refers to them as “terrorist groups,” since the Syrian government denies the existence of an uprising, and claims that it is suffering from terrorists attempting to carry out a foreign conspiracy.  Recently, Assad said that Syria’s neighbors were to blame for inciting the revolt, and said that they will pay a “heavy price.”  In an interview with a Turkish television station, Assad warned viewers of a possible spillover from the conflict in Syria into neighboring countries, and predicted that it “will have an immediate domino effect that will reach countries across the Middle East.”

Assad made similar promises before during the two-year war, and even offered pardons for those “convicted of acts against the state.”

Activists and opposition forces balked at the decree, calling it “political theater,” and said that many dissidents still remain in Syrian prisons.  They also believe that the decree does not go far enough.  Moaz Alkhatib, Syria’s opposition leader, made his skepticism known in a Facebook post.  “We want an amnesty on crimes and the release of all innocents of which there are more than 160,000.  Most importantly among them are the women and children.  If this happens we will say it is a token of a Syrian solution,” said Alkhatib.

Even though the Syrian government refuses to disclose prisoner-related statistics, it is estimated that tens of thousands of prisoners, including thousands of political prisoners, are currently incarcerated.

Meanwhile, the number of casualties in Syria is on the rise as the conflict continues.  The United Nations estimates that over 70,000 people have been killed in the two year period.  Last March was also considered to be the bloodiest month of the entire conflict.  The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that they recorded over 6,000 deaths within that period.

Also, the conflict itself has resulted in the displacement of over 1.3 million refugees to neighboring countries, while two million are displaced within Syria.

For further information, please see:

Al Bawaba — Syria: Assad Issues Fresh “General Amnesty” as Opposition Remain Unimpressed — 16 April 2013

Alternative Press — Syria’s Assad Reduces Sentences for Some Rebels — 16 April 2013

Raw Story — Syrian President’s new Amnesty Offer Waives Death Penalty for War Crimes –16 April 2013

Times of Israel — Bashar Assad Issues Amnesty Decree for Criminals — 16 April 2013