The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a group of 51 detainees today, Saturday, in al-Hasakah governorate (northeastern Syria), as the provisions of the presidential amnesty issued by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa begin to be implemented across Syria.
Although the release is separate from the presidential amnesty, it comes amid political and administrative shifts the governorate has witnessed since the beginning of this year.
The release took place in the presence of al-Hasakah Governor Nour al-Din Ahmad, who said the current period is “not a phase of detention or exclusion,” but rather “a step toward positive integration into society.”
He called on those released to engage in public life and contribute to “serving their communities and strengthening stability.”
“A phase of forgiveness and rebuilding”
The governor said Syria is going through a phase of “forgiveness and rebuilding” that requires all Syrians to stand together. He stressed that society is “a trust on the shoulders of officials and citizens alike,” and that those released are “an integral part of this social fabric,” even if some of them made mistakes in previous stages.
He added that the release aims to “entrench the values of tolerance and shared responsibility,” expressing hope that those released will leave a “positive mark” that helps strengthen civil peace in the coming period.
The development came one day after the governor announced a package of administrative and service measures he said were meant to “strengthen service and administrative stability and facilitate citizens’ affairs,” as the governorate undergoes a reordering of a number of civil and institutional files.
Measures accompanying restructuring
Among the measures announced by the governor was the resuming land travel between al-Hasakah and Damascus, which would help facilitate the movement of people and goods after periods of disruption or complications in travel procedures.
He also pointed to oversight by a specialized committee of the integration process within the General Establishment for Cereal Trade and Processing, in addition to reinstating dismissed employees in accordance with legal procedures. The steps fall within a broader track to restructure public institutions in the governorate in line with the laws and regulations in force in the Syrian state.
In parallel, the governor had directed the release of another group of prisoners, in a move seen as an attempt to ease tensions in parts of the governorate in recent weeks.
Protest background
Several areas in the countryside of al-Hasakah and Raqqa witnessed a series of demonstrations and protest vigils in early February under the slogan “Friday Save al-Hasakah,” during which hundreds of residents voiced opposition to the security and military policies the SDF pursues in the cities of al-Hasakah and al-Qamishli.
Protesters condemned arrest campaigns targeting young men from the area, as well as what they described as “ongoing violations against civilians.” They called for an end to the “security grip” and the release of detainees, while also stressing the unity of the social fabric between Arabs and Kurds and rejecting any projects that threaten coexistence.
Local activists linked the new release to rising public pressure in recent weeks, considering it a potential “de-escalation gesture” if followed by similar steps, including releasing more detainees and settling the status of others.
Between the presidential amnesty and local shifts
The release coincided with announcements about implementing the presidential amnesty, raising questions about coordination mechanisms between local bodies in al-Hasakah and the central authorities in Damascus, particularly amid talk of integration and restructuring tracks across several sectors inside the governorate.
In recent months, al-Hasakah has seen accelerating administrative and security changes, amid efforts to reorganize the work of official institutions and unify administrative references, alongside steps described as paving the way for a new phase in managing service and civil affairs.
The release comes within this context, as an indicator of attempts to ease social tension and open a new page with segments of society affected by security measures during the previous period.
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