Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria on Saturday announced their second prison amnesty in the space of five months.
The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), said in a statement on Saturday that all prisoners serving time for petty crimes will be released from prison. Those suffering from incurable or terminal diseases and those aged over 75 will also be released.
Inmates given life sentences will now serve 20 years in jail, while others will serve only half of their sentence, according to the amnesty.
The amnesty excludes people charged with “betrayal, espionage, honor killing, sexual abuse, and trading with or consuming drugs.” It also excludes commanders and trainers of terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS).
Those at large have 60 days to turn themselves in and benefit from the amnesty.
The NES issued a similar amnesty on May 17 for the advent of Eid al-Fitr, which excludes convicted terror offenders, rapists, and drug dealers.
Rojava is militarily governed by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which captured thousands of ISIS-affiliated people during clashes with the group between 2014 and 2019. Men are kept in prisons, while women and children are kept at the al-Hol and Roj camps in Hasaka.
Speaking at a symposium on Sunday, Elham Ahmad, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) – the political arm of the SDF – described the camp as a “heavy burden on the shoulders” of the NES.
“A decision will be issued to empty the Syrians from the camp completely. Those who remain in the camp will not be the responsibility of the self-administration,” Ahmad said.
The decision follows repeated calls from the NES and US officials for countries to repatriate their nationals from Rojava. However, few countries responded positively to the call.
Ahmad specified in a tweet published on Monday evening that "only the Syrian families who wish to leave al-Hol camp are free to leave. The families of foreign fighters and Syrians who have serious accusations will remain in the camp".
Approximately 68,000 people, including Syrians and foreigners, live in al-Hol camp. Nearly two thirds, around 43,000, are children.
It is not yet clear how many prisoners will benefit from the new amnesty.
(Rudaw)
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