Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa has issued a decree granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before its date, excluding serious offenses such as torture and human trafficking. The amnesty includes reductions of sentences in certain cases and contains conditional exemptions. It went into effect immediately upon publication.

The decree stipulates that life imprisonment or life detention sentences be reduced to 20 years, provided that the reduction does not apply to felonies that resulted in personal harm unless the victim waives their personal right. A three‑month period is granted for filing such claims; if it expires without action, the reduction provisions apply.

The decree also grants a full exemption from punishment for anyone suffering from an incurable terminal illness requiring assistance from others, as well as for convicts who had reached the age of 70 on the date of issuance—even for crimes otherwise excluded—under specific conditions.

The amnesty covers full cancellation of penalties for misdemeanors and infractions, as well as a number of felonies related to smuggling laws, dealing in currencies other than the Syrian pound, cybercrimes, and certain specified felonies in the general and military penal codes, provided they were committed before designated dates.

The decree also provides conditional exemptions for certain crimes, including kidnapping—if the abducted person is released voluntarily and unharmed—and weapons possession, if the weapons are surrendered to the authorities within three months of the decree’s issuance.

In contrast, the decree excludes several crimes from the amnesty, most notably offenses involving grave violations against the Syrian people, torture, human trafficking, prostitution, and certain drug‑related crimes, in addition to specific articles of the penal code.

The decree affirms that compensatory fines owed to the state are not covered by the amnesty, nor will any fees or amounts collected prior to its issuance be refunded. Its provisions take effect from the date of issuance and publication in the official gazette.