Presidential law tightens up penalties on recruiting child soldiers
DAMASCUS,(ST)_President Bashar Al-Assad issued on Sunday law No.11 for the year 2013 stipulating the addition of a new article to the penal code concerning the recruitment of children in fighting.
The new article provides the sentencing of everyone recruiting a child under the age of 18 in fighting or any relevant act to 10-20 years in hard labor in addition to paying a fine of SP 1-3 million.
The sentence is to be intensified to life imprisonment in case that the act caused a physical incapacity to the child , or he (the child) is being sexually assaulted, or given any type of narcotics.
Under the new article, the death penalty will be handed down if the child dies in fighting or in any relevant act.
Basma Qaddour