Dr Nour al-Din al-Atassi, a prisoner of conscience aged 63, has been held without charge or trial for almost 22 years. He is a former president of Syria, Secretary General of the Syrian Ba’th Party and Prime Minister. He was arrested in November 1970 after the coup which brought President Hafez al-Assad to power and has been held since in al-Mezze Military Prison in Damascus. AI is concerned at reports that Dr Nour al-Din al-Atassi, who reportedly suffers from diabetes, hypertension and intestinal polyps, is in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack on 26 or 27 April. He is said to be in Tishrin Hospital in Damascus for treatment and to be in a stable condition. AI is calling for his immediate and unconditional release and for those held with him to be released.
