Around 40,000 Syrian Militants Received Amnesty From Damascus- Reconciliation Organization

Approximately 40,000 Syrian citizens, who were part of illegal militant groups, have received amnesty from the government, a head of the Syrian National Reconciliation Agency, Jany Haddur, said on Thursday

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th March, 2019) Approximately 40,000 Syrian citizens, who were part of illegal militant groups, have received amnesty from the government, a head of the Syrian National Reconciliation Agency, Jany Haddur, said on Thursday.

"Owing to the organization's cooperation with relevant authorities, about 40,000 people involved in using weapons against the Syrian state have already settled their status and pledged not to return to participation in illegal armed groups," Haddur said, adding that around 6,000 women, who resided in the areas controlled by terrorists, also "settled their status and were granted the right to safe and dignified life."

Haddur confirmed that the data on 16,000 people missing during the hostilities was handed over to the provincial authorities, and added that 237 confirmations of the possibility of exchanging citizens abducted by terrorist groups for persons detained by competent state authorities were received.

The Syrian National Reconciliation Agency, which reports directly to the country's prime minister, was established in late 2018 on the basis of the former Ministry of National Reconciliation. The new body helps Syrians to find relatives, who went missing during the war, clarifies casualty lists and assists refugees in obtaining legitimate documents.

Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011. At the moment, the Syrian government forces continue military operations in several areas of the country to clear them from terrorists. The political resolution, rebuilding of the country and return of the refugees have come to the forefront in Syria.