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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 24/039/2006

19 May 2006

UA 142/06 Fear of torture/incommunicado detention/prisoners of conscience

SYRIA Anwar al-Bunni (m), lawyer and human rights defender

Nidal Darwish (m), human rights defender

Michel Kilo (m), writer

Khalil Hussein (m), former prisoner of conscience

Mahmoud Mer'i (m), human rights defender

Dr Safwan Tayfour (m), medical doctor

Mahmoud 'Issa (m), former prisoner of conscience

Ghaleb 'Amer (m), human rights defender

Suleyman Shummar (m)

Muhammad Mahfouz (m)

The 10 Syrian civil society activists named above were arrested between 14 and 18 May by officers of the State Security service. They are held incommunicado, which puts them at risk of torture. At least two of them, Anwar al-Bunni and Nidal Darwish, have been beaten during interrogation.

They were among several hundred Syrian and Lebanese nationals who signed the "Beirut-Damascus Declaration" of 12 May this year, which calls upon their two governments to normalise their relations by exchanging ambassadors and defining their shared borders.

Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Michel Kilo, a prominent writer and the first to be arrested, was reportedly charged on 17 May with security offences that carry a possible life sentence. On 18 May eight of the other men were taken to court, but not charged, and taken to ‘Adra prison, near the capital, Damascus.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Syrian military forces, which had been present in Lebanon for 30 years, completed their withdrawal from the country in April 2005. This was two months after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, in which senior Syrian and Lebanese intelligence and security service officers were implicated. Despite the withdrawal, relations between the two countries remain tense. There is no free media in Syria and critics of government policies risk arrest and imprisonment.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Arabic or French, or your own language:

- calling on the authorities to release the 10 men (naming them) immediately and unconditionally, as they are prisoners of conscience held solely for their peaceful work in promotion of democracy and human rights;

- expressing concern at reports that at least two of the men, Anwar al-Bunni and Nidal Darwish, have been beaten during interrogation and that all 10 are held incommunicado, putting them at grave risk of torture;

- reminding the authorities that the 10 men must be given immediate access to lawyers of their own choosing, their families and any medical attention they may require.

APPEALS TO:

President

His Excellency Bashar al-Assad

Presidential Palace

al-Rashid Street

Damascus

Syrian Arab Republic

Fax: + 963 11 332 3410

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Defence

His Excellency General

Hassan Ali Turkmani

Ministry of Defence

Omayyad Square

Damascus

Syrian Arab Republic

Fax: +963 11 223 7842

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Foreign Affairs

His Excellency Walid Mu’allim

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

al-Rashid Street

Damascus

Syrian Arab Republic

Fax: + 963 11 332 7620

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Syria accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 30 June 2006.