Trial of Syrian human rights activist Mazen Darwish underway
(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a joint letter by 35 members and partners of IFEX and the Arab Working Group to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: President Bashar al-Assad Office of the President Presidential Palace Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid St. Damascus, Syria Fax: + 963 11 332 3410 Dear President Bashar al-Assad, We, the undersigned organisations dedicated […]
World Report 2008: Syria
World Report 2008: Syria
Imprisoned academic, rights activists in urgent need of medical care; Arab League Secretary urged to press for detainees’ release
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Arab League: Use Summit to Press Syria on Detained Activists New York, March 28, 2008 – The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, should raise the case of detained political and human rights activists in his meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad […]
Head of free expression organisation charged with “libelling state bodies” over article on January 2008 riots
(HRinfo/IFEX) – HRinfo is appalled by the Syrian authorities’ insistence on having a military tribunal examine charges against journalist Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Centre for Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression. He is accused of “libelling and defaming the state’s bodies” by publishing a feature report about the January 2008 riots in Damascus, […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: Syria
Freedom of the Press 2007: Syria
Another detained in crackdown on democracy advocates; at least eight allegedly beaten, forced to confess
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Opposition Activists Tell of Beatings in Interrogation Authorities Should Release All 12, and Investigate Allegations of Physical Abuse (New York, February 5, 2008) – The Syrian government has arbitrarily detained at least 12 activists who attended a meeting of opposition groups in December, […]
Outspoken former MP among those arrested during wave of “blatant repression of any independent expression,” reports Freedom House
(Freedom House/IFEX) – The following is a 28 January 2008 Freedom House press release: Syrian Activists under Siege January 28, 2008 – In a continuing effort to stifle independent voices, the Syrian government today arrested one of Syria’s leading opposition figures and charged ten detained dissidents with undermining the state. Riyad Seif, a former member […]
Ten pro-democracy activists including two journalists risk three to 15 years in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – Two journalists and eight other pro-democracy activists who signed the Damascus Declaration, an appeal for “radical democratic change,” were brought before a judge in Damascus, on 28 January 2008, six weeks after the start of a wave of arrests, and were formally charged with attacking the prestige of the state, publishing false information, […]
Another Damascus Declaration signatory arrested as crackdown continues
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: Syria: Crackdown on Political Debate ARTICLE 19 condemns the recent crackdown on political opponents and dissenting voices in Syria, and calls upon the Syrian government to stop immediately this attack on freedom of expression. On 7 January 2008, the Syrian authorities arrested opposition activist […]
Journalist who signed Damascus Declaration held incommunicado
(RSF/IFEX) – Writer and journalist Fayez Sara was reportedly arrested on 3 January 2008 after responding to a summons from the state security services. His arrest, which has not yet been confirmed by the authorities, would bring the number of Damascus Declaration signatories currently detained to eight. “The Syrian government continues to crack down on […]
Two journalists face libel charges, one banned from writing for state media
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the repeated harassment of journalist Waddah Muhyiddin during the past few months. Muhyiddin, who specialises in investigating corruption, has been the target of four lawsuits and has been banned from writing for the state news media. “Corruption is a sensitive subject anywhere in the world, but in a country where press […]
Wave of arrests against signatories of petition calling for “democratic change”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned a wave of arrests against signatories of a petition calling for “democratic change” in Syria and highlighted the continuing plight of journalist Michel Kilo, serving a three-year jail sentence also for signing a petition. At least 39 signatories of the Damascus Declaration were arrested on 11 December 2007 […]
Anti-corruption website harassed, closed by authorities as Internet freedom declines; website administrator sues government
(HRinfo/IFEX) – The Administrative Judiciary Court in Damascus has postponed until 5 February 2008 further hearings in the lawsuit filed by the administrator of the Al-Nazaha website ( http://www.alnazaha.org ) against the Syrian minister of communications, Amr Salem. The administrator of the website filed the lawsuit on 6 November 2007, after Salem ordered the website’s […]
Leftist leader faces life in prison for peacefully expressing his opinion
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 7 November 2007 Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Leftist Leader Faces Life in Prison for Phone Call Authorities Should Release Faeq al-Mir at Once (New York, November 7, 2007) – The Syrian government should immediately free Faeq al-Mir, a leader of the leftist People’s Democratic Party, and dismiss […]
Authorities should end repression of human rights groups and activists, says Human Rights Watch report
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: End Repression of Human Rights Groups Security Services Regularly Arrest and Harass Activists (New York, October 17, 2007) – Syrian authorities should stop restricting the freedom of human rights activists to express their views and to associate as a group, Human Rights Watch […]
Three activists detained incommunicado for online commentary; another held, released; Human Rights Watch condemns Internet censorship
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is an 8 October 2007 Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Stop Arrests for Online Comments Two Internet Activists Held Incommunicado, May Be ‘Disappeared’ (New York, October 8, 2007) – Syria should immediately release writers and activists detained solely for expressing their opinions or reporting information online, Human Rights Watch said […]