Syria demands Assad extradition amid amnesty reforms

Syria’s justice minister confirmed that Damascus has officially sought the handover of former President Bashar al-Assad and figures associated with his administration, as the country advances a transitional justice agenda following the political shift in early 2025. The announcement comes days after a sweeping amnesty decree was enacted under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking a significant step in Syria’s post-conflict restructuring.

Amnesty decree implemented nationwide

Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais told Al Jazeera that the general amnesty order, issued Wednesday by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, entered into force immediately. According to Wais, around 1,500 detainees have already been released, while an estimated 500,000 Syrians may ultimately qualify for sentence reductions or pardons under the measure. He described the decree as a legal response to what he called a “complex legislative landscape,” stressing that it aligns with constitutional provisions and existing Syrian law.

Exclusions for serious offenses

Authorities made clear that the pardon does not extend to individuals accused of grave crimes against civilians. “No one involved in a single drop of blood against the Syrian people has been or will be released,” Wais said, drawing a firm boundary between lesser offenses and major violations. The transitional justice framework, he added, is designed to prevent both retaliation and impunity, aiming instead for institutional accountability.

Transitional justice and future trials

The Justice Ministry indicated that court proceedings related to past abuses are expected to begin once investigative files are fully prepared with supporting evidence. Officials say the new judicial track seeks to balance national reconciliation with due process, a central component of Syria’s broader political transition following decades of Baath Party rule.

Call for international cooperation

Addressing the issue of former regime figures abroad, Wais emphasized that the Syrian state has called for the surrender of Bashar al-Assad and associates linked to his government. He urged the international community to uphold its “legal and moral obligations” in facilitating a transparent judicial process. “Syrian justice will not remain silent over any criminal, and we will pursue them through appropriate and internationally legitimate legal means,” he said. Assad, who governed Syria for nearly 25 years, departed for Russia in late 2024, bringing an end to a political era that began in 1963. A transitional administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January, opening a new chapter in Syria’s governance and accountability process.