Presidential Decree Grants Amnesty for Crimes Committed before October 23

DAMASCUS, (ST) _ President Bashar Al-Assad today issued Legislative Decree No. 71 , which provides for granting a general amnesty for crimes committed  before October 23, 2012.

 The 18-article decree states replacement of death penalty for life imprisonment, hard labor penalty for 20 year hard labor imprisonment, and life imprisonment with provisional arrest for 20 years.

 The decree avails amnesty for life –time imprisonment of 70-year old persons, for crimes committed on smuggling excluding crimes of smuggling weapons and drugs, for crimes pertinent to internal and external perpetrators who deserted the army, unless surrendered within 30 days for domestic running away and 90 days for the deserters outside the country.

 This amnesty does not affect the right for personal acclaim.  The prosecutor can   submit his case before the specialized Court within a period of one year from the date of this decree issuance and his right forfeits for re-filing it   after this period.

Syria Times