Syria: Further information: Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist released: Mohsen Taher
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been detained since 9 May by Asayish forces, the police force of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led Autonomous Administration.
Further information on UA: 123/17 Index: MDE 24/6871/2017 Syria Date: 3 August 2017
URGENT ACTION
SYRIAN-KURDISH OPPOSITION ACTIVIST RELEASED
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in
Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been detained since 9 May by Asayish
forces, the police force of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led Autonomous
Administration.
Mohsen Taher, 49 years old, was released on 29 July after meeting the Public Prosecutor in Naf Kori town west of
Qamishli, who informed him that he will be released due to his critical medical condition. Mohsen Taher had to sign
a pledge stating that he will attend the court hearings when summoned at the risk of being detained again.
On 9 July, he had been rushed to the hospital after a drastic deterioration in his health condition. He was provided
medical care that was inadequate for his condition, as he was seen by an urologist when he needed cardiac care.
Mohsen Taher currently suffers from kidney cysts, high blood pressure and prostatic hyperplasia. He lost 15
kilograms of weight in detention. Mohsen Taher was held in poor detention conditions in Allaya prison. There was
no proper ventilation system, poor lighting and insufficient food provisions.
Mohsen Taher is a senior member of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS), He was arrested by the
Asayish forces on 9 May and initially held in Jerkin prison in Qamishli for 22 days. He was then transferred to
Allaya prison where he spent 60 days. Mohsen Taher was interrogated twice, first on 10 May in Jerkin prison where
he was blindfolded, then on 28 June by the Public Prosecutor in the town of Naf Kori west of Qamishli city. Mohsen
Taher confirmed to Amnesty International that he wasn’t offered any access to lawyers during his 81 days in
detention. However, he was visited by his family twice on 5 and 22 June respectively.
Following the release of his two co-activists Bashar Amin and Amin Hussam on 10 July, the Asayish forces held
Mohsen Taher alone in a cell.
Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
This is the second update of UA 123/17. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/6710/2017/en/
Name: Mohsen Taher
Gender m/f: M
Further information on UA: 123/17 Index: MDE 24/6871/2017 Issue Date: 3 August 2017