Century International: “Syrian Prisoner Amnesty Could Be a Breakthrough—If Damascus Is Ready to Do More”
I have a new report out today for The Century Foundation’s Century International, this time on a newly expansive amnesty announced by Syrian authorities. This amnesty decree could, potentially, allow for some diplomatic opening – but only if Damascus takes its implementation further:
On April 30, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad announced an unprecedentedly broad amnesty for Syrians accused of "terror" offenses – a charge Syrian authorities have used to prosecute not just opposition militants, but dissidents more generally. Assad has announced more than a dozen amnesties since 2011, but past amnesties have been more limited and conditional. This new amnesty, by contrast, could benefit thousands of detainees and other Syrians wanted on "terror" charges.
In the days following the decree, Syrian authorities released hundreds of detainees, but in haphazard fashion; bogus lists of names circulated online, and the families of Syria's detained and missing congregated in central Damascus and elsewhere in hopes of seeing their loved ones. Releases have since slowed, maybe because Damascus is rationalizing the system of review and release – or maybe because releases are effectively over. The numbers released under the amnesty so far remain small compared to the tens of thousands detained or missing in Syria.
In the meantime, Syrian officials have communicated to external audiences – in public and in private – that this amnesty is a turning point in Syria's efforts at domestic reconciliation. They've also seemed to imply, in meetings with foreign interlocutors, that they are looking to open up a more reciprocal dynamic with outside countries.
International diplomats and officials following the amnesty's implementation and familiar with Syrian officials' outreach say that the decree's implementation has not, so far, been sufficient to merit some action in return – but that it could be, if Syrian government is prepared to go farther. Now it's on Damascus to decide if it's ready to implement this amnesty more fully and transparently, and to involve international organizations like the International Committee for the Red Cross that could lend the measure real credibility.