Mazhar al-Wais said that the recently passed decree on general amnesty was “an urgent need imposed by the complex legal and legislative reality”, evaluating it as constitutional and legally based.
On Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa signed a decree granting a general amnesty for certain crimes, while reducing penalties for others.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Wais stated that the decree began to be implemented immediately after it was passed, and that 1,500 people have been freed so far. He estimated that around half a million Syrians could benefit from the amnesty.
He emphasized that the pardon does not include those responsible for serious crimes against the Syrians, pointing out: “No one responsible for shedding a single drop of blood of the Syrian people has been and will not be freed.”
Speaking about transitional justice, Wais said the ministry is following the “right path” that rejects both revenge and impunity. He stated that the start of the trial within that process is expected “in the near future”, after the court cases with evidence and documentation are completed.
Regarding the accountability of former regime officials, Wais said the Syrian state has emphasized “the need to extradite Bashar al-Assad and all those associated with him,” calling for “a clear legal process that puts states before their legal and moral obligations.”
“Syrian justice will not remain silent in the face of any criminal and we will prosecute them with appropriate and internationally legitimate legal means,” he added.
Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in late 2024, ending the Baath Party’s decades-long rule that began in 1963. A new transitional administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
