Fewer Exceptions for Compulsory Military Service

Syrian websites reported that the country had decided to overturn an earlier decision exempting Syrians who suffer from certain medical conditions from compulsory military service.



According to the websites, a presidential decree issued in 2007 allowed some Syrians, such as those with particularly bad eyesight, to avoid doing military service in return for a sum of money.



But the president decided recently to reverse this decision, they said.



No decision has been announced in the official media.



The news website all4Syria quoted an unnamed high-ranking official on August 29 as saying that the new step was taken to deal with a fall in the number of soldiers after the length of military service was reduced from two and a half years to two years.



The source added that the 2007 decree had given way to corruption as many young Syrians paid to avoid military service, claiming that they suffered from certain medical conditions.



He said that more than 75,000 Syrians evaded military service, many of whom went to work in Gulf countries to avoid the call-up.