The amnesty, according to the Telegram channel of the Syrian Presidency, includes army fugitives provided that they turn themselves in within three to four months.

He said that the pardon is part of the forgiveness and social tolerance approach and gives offenders the opportunity to start over.

The pardon excludes offenders who committed crimes related to arms smuggling, explosives, treason, espionage, aid to the enemy, and terrorist actions as a result of which civilians or soldiers were killed.

In May, the Syrian president enacted a Legislative Decree that pardoned offenders who committed terrorist crimes that did not result in the loss of human lives.

Pardons are part of a forgiveness and social tolerance approach in a nation that has been waging a war for more than 12 years.

jg/aph/nmr/fm