MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : YOUNG MEN DON’T LEAVE SYRIA – DIE HERE ! – Regime Bans Men of Military Age From Leaving Syria
- Sept 2018 – MESOP NEWS – The Assad regime is banning men between the ages of 17 and 42 — the range for military service — from leaving Syria. An official in the Department of Immigration and Passports confirmed social media reports that no man between 17 and 42 can depart without written permission from the Military Conscription Office
Posts on social media said the order was implemented suddenly, causing confusion at border posts and airports. Hundreds of people were prevented from leaving yesterday, and bus drivers were blocked from crossing the border. The pro-regime Al-Watan says the decree was issued in 2007, but implementation was only agreed in recents between the Defense and Interior Ministries.The report reinforces accounts that refugees are reluctant to return to Syria — and the UN is unwilling to certify security in the country — in part because of forced conscription. www.mesop.de