Document - Syria: Further information on incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 24/002/2008
7 January 2008
Further Information on UA 333/07 (MDE 24/045/2007, 17 December 2007) and follow-up (MDE 24/046/2007, 18 December 2007)- Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience
SYRIA Dr. Feda’a al-Horani (f), aged 51, physician
Akram al-Bunni (m), aged 51, former prisoner of conscience, writer and political analyst
Ahmad To’meh (m), aged 51, dentist
Jabr al-Shoufi (m), aged 60, Arabic literature teacher
‘Ali al-‘Abdullah (m), aged 57, former prisoner of conscience and journalist
Dr Walid al-Bunni (m), aged 43, former prisoner of conscience and physician (no relation of Akram and Anwar al-Bunni)
Dr Yasser al-‘Eiti (m), aged 39, physician and poet
New names: Fayez Sarah (m), aged 58, writer and journalist
The writer and peaceful advocate of reform in Syria, Fayez Sarah was arrested on 3 January 2008 and is now reportedly being held incommunicado without charge at the State Security branch in Damascus. His detention brings the number of recently arrested political activists currently being held by State Security to eight. They are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Amnesty International considers them to be possible prisoners of conscience, detained solely for their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association.
Similarly to the seven others arrested between 9-17 December 2007, Fayez Sarah participated in a meeting on 1 December 2007 of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC), a leading pro-democracy group. The DDDNC is an unauthorised umbrella grouping comprising opposition and pro-democracy groups in Syria.
Fayez Sarah is believed to have been arrested for defending the remaining DDDNC detainees and denouncing the Syrian authorities’ latest arrest campaign during a TV programme on 1 January. More than 40 DDDNC members were arrested, in all, of whom 33 were released within a few days. No charges are known to have been brought against any of those released and still detained.
Walid al-Bunni, Yasser al-‘Eiti, Feda’a al-Horani, Akram al-Bunni, Ahmad To’meh, Jabr al-Shoufi , ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah and Fayez Sarah remain in detention, for reasons that are currently unclear. The Syrian authorities have given no reasons for their continuing imprisonment and, reportedly, they do not have access to legal counsel or contact with their families, increasing concern that they could be subject to torture or other ill-treatment.
Fayez Sarah is a writer and journalist contributing to a number of well known Arab newspapers and magazines including as-Safir, al-Hayat and al-Arab al-Youm. Fayez Sarah is also a member of the Committees for the Revival of the Civil Society (CRCS), an unauthorised pro-reform network of Syrian individuals engaging in human rights-related and political discussion. Fayez Sarah reportedly, suffers from a malfunctioning thyroid gland which requires constant observation and medical attention.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Arabic, French or your own language:
- expressing concern at the arrest of Fayez Sarah on 3 January 2008;
- expressing concern that Feda' al-Horani, Akram al-Bunni, Ahmad To’meh, Jabr al-Shoufi, ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah, Walid al-Bunni, Yasser al-‘Eiti and Fayez Sarah are held incommunicado, apparently on account of the peaceful exercise of their human rights;
- calling on the authorities to guarantee that the eight will not be tortured or ill-treated, and will be given immediate access to their relatives, lawyers and any medical treatment they may need;
- calling on the authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally if they are prisoners of conscience held solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions, or else to bring them to trial promptly and fairly on recognizably criminal charges.
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 Justice
His Excellency Muhammad al-Ghafari
Ministry of Justice
Al-Nasr Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 666 2460
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 3327620
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 18 February 2008.