criminal-law refugee-law
Does Syria have a law that states fleeing from the country is illegal?
<p>I was reading this <a href="https://expatriates.stackexchange.com/q/8962/9674">interesting question</a> at Expats SE. It states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I am a Syrian refugee who escaped the war! In my country I am considered an outlaw for doing this.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, this makes me curious. Does the Syrian government forbid citizens from fleeing the country?</p>

<p>I've tried googling this, but there are so many irrelevant results, and my Google-fu belt is only yellow.</p>

<p>Information about law in Syria is virtually impossible to find, but there is some evidence to support the claim. <a href="http://www.refworld.org/docid/532022d84.html" rel="nofollow">This article</a> notes that exit stamps are required from the Damascus airport, that men between 18 and 24 are not allowed to travel without government permission. Information from <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/syria.html" rel="nofollow">US State Dept.</a> indicates that "Syria charges a departure tax at its land and sea borders for all visitors except those on diplomatic passports and children under the age of 11". <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Syria" rel="nofollow">This page</a> cites two articles indicating that Syria requires exit visa, based on "How Syria controls its dissidents - Banning travel". <em>The Economist</em>. 30 September 2010 and Ghadry, Farid N. (Winter 2005). "Syrian Reform: What Lies Beneath". <em>The Middle East Quarterly</em>. The <a href="http://www.voltairenet.org/article173033.html" rel="nofollow">Syrian Constitution</a> allows for restricting exit in Article 38(3):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Every citizen shall have the right to move in or leave the territory
  of the state, <em>unless prevented by a decision from the competent court
  or the public prosecution office or in accordance with the laws of
  public health and safety</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>There are individual travel bans. <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32479269" rel="nofollow">Louay Hussein</a>, who opposes the current regime, had to escape without permission. So the individual in question may have also said something negative about the government.</p>
