Administration of North and East Syria issues General Amnesty Law for Eid al-Fitr

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In an interview with Suroyo TV, Co-Chair of the Democratic Peoples’ Council in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) Siham Quryo explained the recent enactment of a comprehensive amnesty law to coincide with Eid al-Fitr.

Detailing the provisions of Law Number 3 of 2024, which was released in observance of Eid al-Fitr, Quryo underscored that a blanket amnesty has been extended for crimes, violations, and misdemeanors, effectively nullifying any custodial sentences for such offenses.

Furthermore, Quryo emphasized that life imprisonment has been commuted to a maximum of 15 years of temporary incarceration, with the possibility of parole after serving half of the term. Exceptions to this include individuals afflicted with terminal illnesses, who may be eligible for immediate release.

However, certain categories of offenses remain excluded from the scope of the amnesty law, such as terrorism-related crimes, offenses against public funds, sexual assault, drug trafficking, human trafficking, absconding from justice, and disciplinary infractions. Additionally, crimes deemed detrimental to the fundamental interests of DAARNES are also exempted.

Quryo highlighted that the law comprises six articles and has been effective since its promulgation by the Democratic Peoples’ Council on 6 April.