Syria
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- republic under a military regime
- CONSTITUTION
- March 13, 1973
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law, Islamic law is used in family matters
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, People's Council (Majlis al-Shaab)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Supreme Court, judges appointed for four years by the president; High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Court
RELIGIONS
74% Sunni Muslims; 16% other Muslims, 10% Christians; Jewish minorities
From the country
AUGUST 11, 2026SyriaDEATH PENALTYSyria: Former President Assad sentenced to death in absentia
- JULY 22, 2026SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA’S PROSECUTION SEEKS DEATH PENALTY FOR WASSIM AL-ASSAD
- DECEMBER 15, 2025SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA DENIES DEATH PENALTY CLAIMS FOR FORMER GRAND MUFTI, SAYS LEGAL PROCESS ONGOING
Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weis denied widespread online rumors that former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun faces a death sentence
NOVEMBER 6, 2025SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: MAN TO BE HANGED FOR MURDER OF EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL, IN FIRST DEATH SENTENCE SINCE ASSAD OUSTER
A court in northeast Syria has sentenced a man to death by hanging after finding him guilty of raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl, The New Arab reported on November 11, 2025.
MAY 23, 2024SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: THREE DEATH SENTENCES IN ALEPPO COUNTRYSIDE FOR THE MURDER OF ABU GHANNOUM AND HIS WIFE
A military criminal court in the town of al-Rai in Aleppo’s countryside on May 22, 2024 issued a death sentence against the suspects involved in the assassination of activist Mohammed Abdul Latif (Abu Ghannoum) and his pregnant wife, about a year and a ha
- FEBRUARY 23, 2022SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA REGIME EXECUTED DOZENS OF MEN IN MILITARY PRISON (REPORT)
The Syrian regime has executed dozens of young men from Eastern Ghouta inside the Sednaya Military Prison, Middle East Monitor reported on 22 February 2022, citing a local media group.
- OCTOBER 23, 2021SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA EXECUTES 24 PEOPLE FOR SETTING WILDFIRES, CALLING IT ‘TERRORISM’
Syria has executed 24 people after convicting them on terrorism charges for igniting last year’s devastating wildfires, leaving three people dead and burning thousands of hectares (acres) of forests, the Justice Ministry said on 21 October 2021.
MAY 3, 2020SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: HAY’AT TAHRIR AL SHAM EXECUTED A CIVILIAN IN ITS DETENTION CENTER
A boy was executed by firing squad in a detention center by Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al Sham for belonging to Syrian Democratic Forces, the young man's family said on 29 April 2020.
MARCH 23, 2020SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: PRESIDENT ASSAD ISSUES AMNESTY, REDUCES SENTENCES
Syrian President Bashar Assad granted amnesty and reduced sentences for all crimes committed before 22 March 2020, while also offering amnesty to military deserters who turn themselves in within the next few months.
- JANUARY 1, 2020SyriaDEATH PENALTY
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD DECREES AMNESTY, REDUCES SENTENCES
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on 15 September 2019 issued a decree to release or decrease the punishment of various prisoners, including some detained under the war-torn country's "terrorism law".
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: EMPLOYERS OF MURDERED FILIPINA DOMESTIC SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Syrian court sentenced to death the employers of a Filipina househelper after they were found guilty of her murder in 2017, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on 9 September 2019.