Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 39 of 2026, granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before the issuance of the decree..

The amnesty, issued today, Wednesday, February 18, commutes life sentences to 20 years in prison. However, it excludes rulings involving personal claims unless the affected party waives their right.

In cases where no personal claim has been filed, the decree stipulates that a personal claim must be filed within three months.. If this period lapses without a claim being filed, the commutation provisions outlined in the decree will apply.

The amnesty also covers prisoners suffering from terminal illnesses, individuals aged 70 and above, and juvenile detainees under 18 years old.

Crimes fully covered

The decree grants full amnesty for the following:

• Misdemeanors and minor violations in full.
• The felony stipulated in Article 43 of the Anti-Drug Law No. 2 of 1993.
• Felonies stipulated in the Anti-Smuggling Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 13 of 1974.
• Felonies stipulated in the Money Exchange Profession Regulation Law No. 24 of 2006 and its amendments.
• Felonies stipulated in the Law Prohibiting Transactions in Non-Syrian Currency No. 54 of 2013.
• Felonies stipulated in the Law on Smuggling State-Subsidized Goods, issued by Legislative Decree No. 42 of 2008.
• The felony stipulated in Paragraph “B” of Section “A” of Article 56 of the Consumer Protection Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 8 of 2021.
• Certain felonies stipulated in the Penal Code issued by Legislative Decree No. 148 of 1949 and its amendments, in accordance with the specified articles.
• Felonies stipulated in the Military Penal Code issued by Decree No. 61 of 1950.
• Felonies stipulated in the Cybercrime Law No. 20 of 2022.

Conditional amnesty

The decree conditions the application of amnesty under Article 1 of Legislative Decree No. 20 of 2013, related to kidnapping cases, on the perpetrator voluntarily releasing the abducted person without compensation and without causing permanent harm, or handing them over to the competent authorities before the issuance of the decree or within two months from its date.

Regarding crimes stipulated in the Weapons and Ammunition Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 51 of 2001, the decree requires the surrender of weapons to the competent authorities within three months of its issuance in order to benefit from the amnesty.

Exceptions

The presidential decree excludes several cases from the amnesty, including:

• Crimes involving serious violations against the Syrian people.
• Crimes in which the Supreme Judicial Council is responsible for annulling the effects of unjust rulings.
• Crimes stipulated in the Anti-Prostitution Law No. 10 of 1961.
• Crimes stipulated in the Law on Theft of Electricity and Telecommunications Network Components No. 34 of 2024.
• Crimes stipulated in the Exam Cheating Law No. 42 of 2023.
• Crimes stipulated in the Anti-Torture Law No. 16 of 2022.
• Felonies stipulated in Articles 39, 40, 41, and 42 of the Anti-Drug Law No. 2 of 1993.
• Crimes stipulated in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 3 of 2010.

The decree does not cover fines related to violations of foreign exchange regulations, tobacco laws, construction control regulations, electricity, stamps, and other laws where fines are considered civil compensation to the state.

In contrast, the provisions of this decree do cover fines of a punitive nature, to the extent that they are affected by the custodial or liberty restricting penalty.

It also stipulates that fees, fines, and settlement amounts collected before the issuance of the decree will not be refunded, whether paid voluntarily or pursuant to a judicial ruling.

The decree comes hours before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, which begins tomorrow, Thursday, according to the National Committee for Crescent Observation.