Arab Commission for Human Rights

Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies

International Committee for the Defense of Damascus spring figures

SIX SYRIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL SOCIETY FIGURES ARE IN JAIL

Aref Daleela: (Lataquia 1943) Professor of economy, great figure of Revival of the Civil Society. Arrested in 9/08/2000, condemned to 10 years by the Supreme State Security Court. Actually in Adra prison

Habib Issa: (Missiaf 1956), Lawyer, spokesperson of Jamal al-Atasi Forum, Board of trustees of the Human Rights Association in Syria. Arrested in 12/09/2000, condemned to 10 years by the Supreme State Security Court. Actually in Adra prison.

Riad Saif: (Damascus 1944) Syrian deputy, Founder of National Dialogue Forum, Board of trustees of the Human Rights Association in Syria, , arrested in 6/09/2000, condemned to 5 years, actually in Adra prison

Maamoun al-Homsi: (Damascus 1955) Syrian deputy. He asked for the creation of Human Rights Committee in the Parliament. Arrested in 9/08/2000, condemned to 5 years, actually in Adra prison.

Fawwaz Tello: (Damascus 1961) engineer, Founder member of the Human Rights Association in Syria. Founder member of National Dialogue Forum. Arrested in 12/09/2000, condemned to 5 years by the Supreme State Security Court, actually in Adra prison

Waleed al-Bunni: (Damascus 1963), physician, . Founder member of National Dialogue Forum, member of Revival of the Civil Society. Arrested in 8/09/2000, condemned to 5 years by the Supreme State Security Court, actually in Adra prison.

We ask Syrian authorities to

1.Stop the harassment of human rights defenders in the country;

2.Conform with the provisions of the 1998 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, specifically Article 1 providing that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and Article 6b providing that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others...freely to publish, impart or disseminate views, information, and knowledge of all human rights and fundamental freedoms”;

3.Abolish the exceptional procedures of the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) and allow for fair and impartial judicial proceedings for all in accordance with Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a party since 1969;

4.To respect the Association Agreement between the European Union and Syria, which includes a human rights clause (article 2).