President Assad issues laws on combating terrorism

President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued Law No. 19 on combating terrorism.

President al-Assad also enacted a law on dismissing state workers who are indicted by a court verdict with committing terrorist acts, joining terrorist groups, instigating and providing any moral or material assistance for the armed terrorist group.

President al-Assad also issued a law which stipulates that the punishment for whoever kidnaps a person by force or deception with the aim of demanding ransom is 10 to 20 years in prison with hard labor and a fine.

The anti-terrorism law identified some terms in connection with the application of this law, with the law defining a terrorist act as every act which aims at creating a state of panic among the people, destabilizing public security and damaging the basic infrastructure of the country by using weapons, ammunition, explosive, flammable materials, toxic products, epidemiological or bacteriological factors or any method fulfilling the same purposes.

The terrorist organization is defined a group of three persons or more that aim at committing a terrorist act or more.

Funding terrorism means any direct or indirect supplying with money, weapons, ammunition, explosives, telecommunication tools, information or other things with the aim of using them in carrying out a terrorist act by one person or a terrorist organization.

The law lists the various sentences for committing terrorist acts, establishing terrorist organizations, conspiring to commit terrorist acts, recruiting or training terrorists, funding terrorism, the possession, smuggling, manufacturing or stealing weapons or explosives with the intent of using them for terrorist acts, threatening the government with terrorist acts, hijacking transport vehicles, and the distribution of publications or information promoting terrorism.

The law also includes conditions and extenuating circumstances for acquitting the indicted individuals or mitigating their sentences, which include reporting intended criminal acts listed in the law, and aiding in the arrest of criminals.

The full law will be published in official newspapers and is put in effect upon publication.

In a statement to SANA, Justice Minister Radwan Habib said Law No. 19 was issued due to the severity of some of the criminal acts that took place recently and the inadequacy of existing laws in dealing with such acts.

He said that the law set parameters that suit crimes of extreme severity while taking into account the rights of citizens, mainly their rights to freedom and dignity, along with the state’s right to protect itself and its interests.

Habib noted that there are similar laws in most countries.

In turn, head of the Syrian Bar Association Nizar ak-Skif said that Law No. 19 was issued just in time, and that those who deal with the country’s establishment with a direct or indirect terrorist mentality must be punished severely to match the gravity of the terrorist acts which threaten to destroy the country, the citizens and all other components of the homeland.