Assad’s regime has begun releasing prisoners from government jails under the general amnesty that was announced Monday, AFP reports.
“Dozens of prisoners began to be released from Adra prison (in Damascus province) yesterday and the releases will continue today. The anti-terrorism tribunal and criminal courts are sending lists of the prisoners to be released to the prisons, and security services are handling the lists of those to be released from their facilities, ” said Anwar al-Bunni.
According the AFP, multiple journalists are expected to be freed under the amnesty. It will also offer clemency to foreign jihadists fighting for the opposition, as long as they hand themselves in within a month. Those who deserted from the army will be extended a full pardon if they hand themselves in within three months.
Assad had previously labeled any dissenter as a terrorist and used the law to jail anyone who disagreed with him.
The brutal Syrian civil war has raged for over three years, killing over 160,000 and displacing millions.
