SDF’s Abdi announces amnesty in meeting with Raqqa notables

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Wednesday announced a “special amnesty” after meeting with notables from the Arab-majority city of Raqqa in northern Syria.

“Coinciding with the Eid spirit, and keen to promote the values of unity and tolerance, General Mazloum Abdi announced a special amnesty covering a number of security cases, in response to the wishes of the people and in honor of the spirit of the occasion,” the SDF said in a statement.

During the meeting, Abdi also provided “a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the recent developments in Syria and the region, including the recent important agreement” between the Kurdish-led northeast Syria (Rojava) administration and Damascus, according to the statement.

On Tuesday, the SDF and Damascus reached an agreement to exchange “all prisoners” and allow SDF-affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) to remain in Aleppo’s predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh.

“The members of the delegation expressed their satisfaction with this positive development, considering it an important step towards achieving the interests of all the people of the region,” the statement noted.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Abdi signed a landmark agreement on March 10 to integrate the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus. The agreement recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns.