Al-Assad’s Soldiers Hope for Amnesty. First, They Have to Take a Number.

Syria’s new rulers say they will spare conscripts of Bashar al-Assad and pursue those who oversaw his regime’s abuses. Hundreds are lining up to learn which promise applies to them.According to The New York Times, this week saw hundreds of soldiers and police officers gather at a former security compound in Latakia, Syria, in response to the new government’s call to sever ties with the ousted regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Under the Assad government’s rule, a brutal security apparatus was established, known for detaining, torturing, and executing opponents. In light of this, the rebel coalition that overthrew Assad announced last week that they would pursue senior officials involved in crimes, while offering amnesty to conscripted soldiers.

The so-called reconciliation center in Latakia, which opened on Sunday, saw over 600 people come forward to clear their names and settle their status. However, the process for doing so remains unclear.

Online and on television, the Syrian transitional government, led by rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, urged former soldiers, military officers, and even medical workers in the military to surrender their IDs, weapons, and vehicles.

Despite the large turnout, the full extent of the process and its implications are still uncertain. 

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