Syrian Regime Amnesty Decree Released only 547 Detainees

Many Syrians gathered on May 3 in Damascus hoping for the release of relatives held in regime prisons. [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty]
Many Syrians gathered on May 3 in Damascus hoping for the release of relatives held in regime prisons. [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty]
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Syrian Regime Amnesty Decree Released only 547 Detainees

Many Syrians gathered on May 3 in Damascus hoping for the release of relatives held in regime prisons. [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty]
Many Syrians gathered on May 3 in Damascus hoping for the release of relatives held in regime prisons. [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty]

The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the release of 547 detainees from Syrian prisons during the period between early May till mid-June.

It stressed in a report on Saturday that there are some 132,000 people still detained or held in regime prison.

The report confirmed that between May 1 and June 13, amongst those released were 61 women and 16 people who were children at the time they were arrested.

A presidential decree called in May 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.”

According to the report, among those released, at least 158 had seen their security situation adjusted before being arrested and had been granted a settlement pledge that they would not be aggressed by security branches.

Also, 28 people were arrested after returning to Syria, having been refugees and residents outside the country. These included four women, the report said.

The network called on the international community to pressure the Assad regime to release the people who are still detained or held in regime prisons, including 87,000 people who are among the forcibly disappeared.

It also demanded that the regime cancels its exceptional courts and nullify all its verdicts that violate many of the basic rights of the Syrian citizens.

They ruled out the implementation of any of these demands without a political transition that ends the tyranny and brutality of the security services.



US to Ease Aid Restrictions for Syria While Keeping Sanctions in Place, Sources Say

Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
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US to Ease Aid Restrictions for Syria While Keeping Sanctions in Place, Sources Say

Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)

The US is set to imminently announce an easing of restrictions on providing humanitarian aid and other basic services such as electricity to Syria while still keeping its strict sanctions regime in place, according to people briefed on the matter.
The decision by the outgoing Biden administration will send a signal of goodwill to Syria's new rulers and aims to pave the way for improving tough living conditions in the war-ravaged country while also treading cautiously and keeping US leverage in place.
US officials have met several times with members of the ruling administration, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, since the dramatic end on Dec. 8 of more than 50 years of Assad family rule after a lightning offensive by opposition factions.
HTS, the faction that led the advance, has long-since renounced its former Al Qaeda ties and fought the group but they remain designated a terrorist entity by the US and Washington wants to see them cooperate on priorities such as counterterrorism and forming a government inclusive of all Syrians.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration approved the easing of restrictions over the weekend, saying the move authorizes the Treasury Department to issue waivers to aid groups and companies providing essentials such as water, electricity and other humanitarian supplies.