Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued on Tuesday general amnesty on crimes committed in the crisis-hit country before April 16.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued on Tuesday general amnesty on crimes committed in the crisis-hit country before April 16.

President Assad “on Tuesday issued legislative decree No. 23 for the year 2013 stipulating pardoning the crimes committed before April 16, 2013,” official news agency reported today.

The agency added that under the decree, the death penalty will be replaced with a life sentence of hard labor.

The Syrian leader has issued several amnesty decrees since the crisis started in March 2011.

The decree will not apply to people found guilty of smuggling weapons or drug-related crimes, but those convicted of joining the opposition would get lighter sentences, according to the text of the decree reported by SANA.

"Syrians who joined a terrorist organization will only have to serve a quarter of their sentences.”
"The decision does not apply to those who avoided conscription," the decree added.