The Syrian government has forbidden the issuance of search warrants based on second names alone, according to a notice from Interior Minister Mohamad al-Shaar, saying that the third name of an individual must be provided along with the details of his identity.
In a circular distributed by the ministry, Shaar said that meetings had been held with the relevant entities to address the current search warrants situation, due to it becoming clear warrants were circulated based on second name only.
The minister also said that the number of checkpoints was being reduced in accordance with the improving security situation, adding that the situation was being continuously discussed with the relevant agencies, but indicated that some checkpoints would need to remain.
Shaar pointed to the activity of police departments in the areas where security had been restored, saying that these departments were automatically reopened, such as in Maadan and Al-Sabkha in Raqqa and even in Mayadeen in the countryside of Deir-ez-Zor. He added that it was possible another department would be opened in Albu Kamal within the coming days. He said that authorities in Deir-ez-Zor were working on the issue of civil status, adding that it was possible for residents to return to receive their documents. He said that 30 employees had been assigned, adding that all positions should be filled at the directorate within a year.
According to the minister, at least 72 civil registry directorates had gone out of service in Syria during the crisis, but added that the electronic records have been preserved in the ministry’s information bank. As such, Shaar said the ministry will be able to renew the registries of directorates which return to work, especially in Deir-ez-Zor.
Shaar explained that it is not possible to lose documents backed up at the information bank, adding that every citizen can obtain their civil documentation from any Syrian secretariat, with the exception of personal IDs and family IDs.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
