Accessibility links

Breaking News

Syrian President Lifts Emergency Rule


Listening? Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (file photo)
Listening? Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (file photo)
Syrian state-run television says President Bashar al-Assad has issued decrees ending emergency law in the country, abolishing state security courts, and allowing citizens to protest peacefully.

The government approved the bill on repealing the emergency law earlier in the week.

Ending the 48-year emergency law has been a key demand of protesters who have been staging antigovernment demonstrations for more than a month.

Human rights activists say more than 200 people have been killed since the protests began.

compiled from agency reports

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG