(RSF/IFEX) – While the Syrian authorities released three journalists in November 2000, in the context of an amnesty, two others are still in prison in Syria: Nizar Nayyouf and ‘Adel Isma’il. RSF is deeply concerned for Nayyouf’s very survival. The organisation cannot understand why the Syrian authorities are so determined to keep Nayyouf and Isma’il […]
(RSF/IFEX) – While the Syrian authorities released three journalists in November 2000, in the context of an amnesty, two others are still in prison in Syria: Nizar Nayyouf and ‘Adel Isma’il. RSF is deeply concerned for Nayyouf’s very survival. The organisation cannot understand why the Syrian authorities are so determined to keep Nayyouf and Isma’il in jail. In what way are these two journalists, who did nothing more than freely express their opinions, a threat to their country? It is urgent that the Syrian president, who wishes to give a new image of his country and who recently took measures in this direction, take the decision to release these two journalists.
Nayyouf, a journalist with the monthly “Sawt el Demokratia”, contributor to the magazines “Al-Hurriya” and “Al-Ma’arifa” and member of the human rights organisation CDF (Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedom and Human Rights in Syria, an organisation banned by the government), was arrested in 1992. He was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment and deprived of his civil rights for having written a leaflet denouncing human rights violations during the 1991 elections. Winner in 1998 of the RSF – Fondation de France prize, the journalist is suffering from serious digestive problems, fractured vertebrae and deterioration of his eyesight. Today, he cannot walk without crutches. Deprived of visits since December 2000, the journalist went on a hunger strike in February 2001 for about twenty days in order to protest this decision. On 25 February, a member of his family was finally allowed to visit him. It seems that his parents may now be allowed to visit him once a month. Nayyouf is very thin and the state of his health is very worrying. He suffers from a lymphoma (a malignant tumour of the glands) for which he has received no appropriate treatment. Although he is supposed to be released in 2002, his family fears that he may die before the end of the year if the Syrian authorities continue to refuse him appropriate treatment.
Isma’il, a journalist with the Lebanese daily “Al Raïa”, was arrested in 1996. Accused of being an activist with the banned Democratic Baath Party, he was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.
In the context of a European campaign for Nayyouf’s release, numerous editorial departments of European newspapers sent a letter in February to the Embassy of their country calling for Nayyouf’s release.
A petition calling for the release of the journalist is also available on RSF’s website: www.rsf.fr or www.press-freedom.org
