Damascus: Presidential Amnesty

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad issued on Friday Legislative Decree No/41/ for the year /2004/ stipulating a general amnesty for the crimes committed before 15.07.2004. The Amnesty coincides with the fourth anniversary of President al-Assad's assuming power in Syria.

The aforementioned decree covers the crimes mentioned in Article/10/ of the Modified Law No./49/ for the year/1974/, All the punishment if the crime is a delinquency, all the punishment if the crime is internal or external army deserting except the deserters who kept in hiding unless they turn themselves in during three months following the date of issuance of this legislative decree and the fines related to violations of the customs law, and regulations regarding hard currency, tobacco, and stamps. Number of persons entitled by this pardoning is not known yet.