DAMASCUS — President Bashar Al Assad declared a general amnesty on Tuesday as the conflict ravaging Syria showed no signs of abating, with Western and Russian differences proving unbridgeable.
Assad has issued several amnesty decrees since an uprising against his regime erupted more than two years ago, though it is unclear if they have been implemented, and tens of thousands of political prisoners remain missing.
| It does seem a tad one-sided... |
The official Sana news agency said that under the latest amnesty, which was to take effect immediately, “the death penalty will be replaced with a life sentence of hard labour”.
| So you can be worked to death... |
The amnesty would give lighter sentences to people convicted of joining the rebellion, but it would not apply to those found guilty of smuggling weapons or drug-related crimes, Sana added, quoting the text of the decree.
| Which all the rebels did, of course, whether they knew it or not... |
“Syrians who joined a terrorist organisation will only have to serve a quarter of their sentences,” said the decree.
| So you only get a boot stamping your face daily for five years instead of twenty... |
“The decision does not apply to those who avoided conscription” unless they handed themselves over to the authorities within 30 days if they were in Syria, or 90 days if they were abroad, it added.
The decree also annuls death sentences previously handed out to people over 70 years of age.
| "Here's your amnesty, Gramps!" |
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