Back from the Dead: Syria Amnesty Releases Prisoners Once Declared Deceased

 Syrians await the release of jailed relatives after a general amnesty was issued. (AFP)
Syrians await the release of jailed relatives after a general amnesty was issued. (AFP)
TT
20

Back from the Dead: Syria Amnesty Releases Prisoners Once Declared Deceased

 Syrians await the release of jailed relatives after a general amnesty was issued. (AFP)
Syrians await the release of jailed relatives after a general amnesty was issued. (AFP)

The recent amnesty in Syria led to the release of prisoners who had been declared dead to their families.

The detainees were released following a presidential amnesty for those accused of "terrorist crimes".

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the relatives of a man, Z.M., who had been imprisoned for 10 years, were informed by authorities that he had died in prison.

His name was even listed as dead in a circular issued by local authorities and his family had even received his identification card.

Since then, the family had lost hope that he was alive. So their shock was indescribable when they learned that he was in fact alive and included in the amnesty.

So shocked were they that they had to really make sure it was him. In spite of his extreme fatigue, he went on to list the names of his father, mother, siblings, aunts, uncles and other relatives. His family was then sure that it was indeed Z.M.

Another family has not been as fortunate.

A father of a detainee spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat of his son who has been imprisoned for 10 years and has yet to be released.

"We have no information about where he is," he lamented.

"We asked many who have been released, but no one knows anything about him."

President Bashar al-Assad has issued several amnesty decrees during the country's devastating 11-year war, which broke out after the regime cracked down on mostly peaceful protesters.

But human rights activists said recent release -- following a decree issued in April -- is the most comprehensive in relation to terrorism charges.

The new decree calls for "granting a general amnesty for terrorist crimes committed by Syrians" before April 30, 2022, "except for those leading to the death of a person".

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that more than 640 detainees have already been freed.

Half a million people have been detained in regime prisons since the start of the war, with about 100,000 dying either under torture or due to poor detention conditions, according to the Observatory.



Israeli-Iranian Conflict Alarms Residents of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

A Hezbollah supporter walks near a site previously targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs during a pro-Iran demonstration on Friday (EPA)
A Hezbollah supporter walks near a site previously targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs during a pro-Iran demonstration on Friday (EPA)
TT
20

Israeli-Iranian Conflict Alarms Residents of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

A Hezbollah supporter walks near a site previously targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs during a pro-Iran demonstration on Friday (EPA)
A Hezbollah supporter walks near a site previously targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs during a pro-Iran demonstration on Friday (EPA)

As the Israeli-Iranian conflict intensifies, many Lebanese, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds such as South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, are bracing for the worst.

The possibility of Hezbollah’s involvement in the war has heightened fears of a broader escalation that could drag Lebanon into the conflict once again.

In Beirut’s southern suburb of Hayy al-Sellom, 44-year-old Hassan has already packed a bag, as have his siblings. He says they are waiting for the moment they might have to leave, hoping war doesn’t reach their doorstep.

Similarly, Abir, a resident of Burj al-Barajneh, says her family spends most of their time following the news. With an elderly and sick mother at home, she is worried about how they would evacuate if needed and has already begun looking for a temporary alternative place to stay.

The atmosphere in the southern suburbs is tense but quiet. Commercial activity has dropped noticeably, with shop owners reporting a decline in sales of fresh goods. Many families have already relocated to safer areas in the Bekaa and South Lebanon, especially after the school year ended.

Amina, a homemaker in her forties who lives near the airport road, is one of them. She plans to move to her village with her daughter while her husband remains in Beirut for work. She worries about the possibility of an Israeli strike near her home, which has already been targeted multiple times since the last ceasefire in November. Even without open war, she fears a sudden strike might occur nearby.

Still, not everyone is ready to leave. Kawthar, 30, says her family will stay put unless evacuation becomes absolutely necessary. She notes that in view of her limited financial means, moving isn’t a viable option. Despite the stress and constant presence of Israeli drones overhead, they are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.

Outside Beirut, the fear is just as real. Mustafa, 77, from Bint Jbeil, says the South has been under near-daily fire, and any new war would only worsen an already fragile situation. He fears Hezbollah could be drawn into battle under Iranian pressure, especially if the US becomes involved.

In the Bekaa, residents like Hussein from Hermel echo similar concerns. Having homes in both Hermel and the southern suburbs - areas frequently targeted - he asks the question on everyone’s mind: Where would we go this time?