RSF appeals for the release of seven imprisoned journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF letter to Bashar al-Assad, who will be the only candidate in Syrian presidential elections scheduled for 10 July 2000: Mr Bashar al-Assad Secretary General of the Syrian Baath Party Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street Damascus, Syria Paris, 6 July 2000 Dear Sir, Just a few days prior to the […]
RSF confirms that journalist remains imprisoned
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 26 May 2000 RSF press release: Nizar Nayyuf still in prison Syrian journalist Nizar Nayyuf is still being held at Mezze prison, Damascus, contrary to what Reporters Sans Frontières reported in a press release issued on 27 April 2000. Several sources had announced the journalist’s release on 22 or […]
Imprisoned journalist close to death
**Updates IFEX alerts of 2 May 2000, 25, 4 October and 1 April 1999, 29 September, 17 September and 10 September 1998, 11 October and 27 January 1995** (IPI/IFEX) – In a letter to President Hafez al-Assad, IPI called on the Syrian government to exercise compassion and release the imprisoned journalist Nizar Nayouf. Nayouf is […]
Syrian journalist remains in prison, contrary to reports
**Updates IFEX alerts of 23 November, 25 October, 4 October and 1 April 1999, 29 September, 17 September and 10 September 1998, 11 October and 27 January 1995** (WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 2 May 2000 WAN press release: Paris, 2 May 2000 For immediate release Syrian Journalist Remains in Prison, Contrary to Reports […]
RSF protests the imprisonment of two journalists since 1982 and 1984
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, RSF has expressed its grave concern about the situation of two journalists jailed since 1982 and 1984. RSF asked the Syrian president to “use his influence to assure their expeditious release.” RSF added: “Since Fateh Jamous was to be released in 1997 and Aslan Abdelkarim […]
Call for release of imprisoned writer
SYRIA: RELEASE IMPRISONED RIGHTS DEFENDERS (HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 October and 1 April 1999, 29 September, 17 September and 10 September 1998, 11 October and 27 January 1995** (New York, October 25) Human Rights Watch today called on President Hafez al-Assad of Syria […]
Journalist near death in Syrian prison
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 1 April 1999, 29 September, 17 September and 10 September 1998, 11 October and 27 January 1995** Paris, 4 October 1999 For immediate release Journalist Near Death In Syrian Prison Syrian journalist and democracy advocate Nizar Nayouf is near death in prison […]
Journalist released
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has learned that Qaiss Darwish was released on 29 August 1999 from Seydnaya prison, under the amnesty decreed by President El-Assad, issued on 12 July for his fifth term as president of the Syrian Republic. A journalist for the periodical “Al-Ka’ayda”, Darwish had been jailed since his arrest in August 1984, charged […]
CPJ protests banning of “Al-Quds al-Arabi”
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 30 June 1999 letter to Syrian President Hafez al-Asad, CPJ protested the banning of the London-based daily “Al-Quds al-Arabi” in Syria on 29 June. **Updates IFEX alert of 29 June 1999** On 29 June, Abdel Bari Atwan, the newspaper’s editor in chief, received a faxed letter from the government-run Syrian Distribution […]
Daily “Al-Quds Al-Arabi” banned from Syria
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 29 June 1999 letter to President Hafez Al-Assad, RSF protested against the Syrian Information Ministry’s banning, on 29 June, of the London-based Palestinian daily from entering the country. RSF asked President Al-Assad “to allow Al-Quds Al-Arabi into Syria, in order to favour press freedom.” According to information gathered by RSF, this […]
International Day of Support for Torture Victims
(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 June 1999, RSF issued a report entitled “Burma, Sudan, Syria and Turkey: torture as a form of repression”. A synopsis and the full text of the report follows: Nine journalists were tortured by the Turkish police in 1998. Another suffered the same fate in March 1999. In Syria, 11 journalists languishing […]
RSF concerned for detained journalist
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern over the situation of a detained journalist in Syria. RSF has learned that Adel Isma’il was allegedly arrested in 1996 upon his arrival to Syria from Algeria. RSF does not know if he has been tried. He is currently allegedly jailed in Seydnaya. RSF is very concerned about this […]
Syrian journalist may die in prison
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 29 September, 17 September and 10 September 1998, 11 October and 27 January 1995** Paris, 1 April 1999 For immediate release Syrian Journalist May Die in Prison The World Association of Newspapers has appealed to the Syrian government to release journalist Nizar […]
Ten journalists still jailed as of 8 March 1999
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF report: **Updates IFEX alert of 10 March 1999** Ten journalists still jailed as of 8 March 1999 Nizar Nayyuf, winner of the 1998 RSF Fondation de France award, a freelance journalist, contributor to the weekly “Al-Huriyya” and the magazine “Al-Thaqafa Al-Maarifa”, and a member of the Committee for […]
Journalists tortured in Syria
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: Journalists tortured in Syria Press freedom does not exist in Syria: no independent media are allowed. The country is at war with Israel, and a state of emergency has been in force since 1963, giving the security forces exceptional powers and continuously restricting citizens’ basic freedoms. […]
CPJ calls for release of Syrian journalist Nizar Nayyouf; imprisoned editor gravely ill, in desperate need of medical treatment
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ released the following statement on 29 September 1998: **For more information on this case, see IFEX alerts of 17 and 10 September 1998** In a letter hand-delivered today to Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urgently appealed to the Syrian government to release Nizar Nayyouf, the imprisoned […]