Marked reduction in abduction cases outside Damascus
Abduction cases in Damascus countryside province have decreased from 10 cases a month to one case in two months, according to the Attorney General in the province Maher al-Olabi.
He was quoted on the Damascus-based al-Watan newspaper as citing that the application of deterrent punishments against abductors and the efforts being exerted by the competent authorities are behind the marked reduction in abduction cases.
“Most of the abduction cases were taking place in uncrowded areas, whether they are flashpoint areas or not, for getting ransom from the abductees’ families or for taking revenge “, Olabi said, asserting that the judiciary strictly deals with abductors as such crimes [abduction cases] cause widespread chaos in society.
In April 2013, President Bashar al-Assad issued legislative decree No.20 on tightening penalties for abduction crimes.
The penalties, according to the decree, range from hard labor for life to death sentence, depending on the motives.
“Those who kidnap for political reasons or ransom or for revenge or for sectarian inducement are punished with hard labor for life. While death sentence is the penalty for those who cause death of anyone or leave the kidnapped person with a permanent disability or commit sexual assault against them,” the decree says.
Minister of Justice, Dr. Najm al-Ahmad, said in 2013 that the decree seriously deals with the abduction crime which appeared in the Syrian society during the past two years.
He called on those involved in such crimes to seize the opportunity given by this decree as it forgives the abductor if he frees the person he abducted within 15 days once the decree is put into effect.
http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/society/18260-syrian-abductees-and-detainees-no-1-priority
Basma Qaddour