Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has issued a general amnesty for crimes committed in the war-torn country prior to Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported.

“President Assad has issued decree number 23, granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before April 16, 2013,” said the agency.

Under the decree, “the death penalty will be replaced with a life sentence of hard labour,” it added.

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Assad has issued several amnesty decrees since an uprising against his regime erupted in March 2011.

The latest will not apply to people found guilty of smuggling weapons or drug-related crimes, but those convicted of joining the rebellion would get lighter sentences, said the text of the decree published on SANA.

“Syrians who joined a terrorist organisation will only have to serve a quarter of their sentences,” said the decree.

“The decision does not apply to those who avoided conscription,” the text added.

[Image via Agence France-Presse]