DAMASCUS, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree on Sunday, dissolving the drumhead court-martial law implemented since 1968, according to the state news agency SANA.
The presidential decree ordered all active cases to be transferred to the traditional military court.
"All cases referred to military field courts in their current state are to be transferred to military judiciary for prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the penal code and the principles of military trials," read the presidential decree.
According to Legislative Decree No. 109 of 1968, later amended by two other legislative decrees, the military field court is responsible for crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the military court during times of war and military operations.
The new decision comes as Syria has returned to the Arab fold and the Syrian government was reportedly required to boost the effort for a political solution to the country's more than 12-year war. ■
