Syrian President Assad Grants Amnesty to Army Deserters

Sat Jul 25, 2015 17:34:17

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree announcing a general amnesty for military deserters who violated the country’s compulsory military conscription law, Al-Alam News Network reports.

Syria's news agency (SANA) said that President Assad has granted a general amnesty for army deserters and draft dodgers.

But the decree, issued Saturday by Assad, stipulates that deserters must turn themselves within two months to benefit from the amnesty, media reports said.

The overstretched Syrian army suffers manpower shortages as young men flee the country to avoid compulsory military conscription, AP reported.

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