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 […]
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 to release on humanitarian grounds a 37-year-old human
rights activist serving a ten year sentence in solitary confinement in
Damascus. In a letter released today, the international monitoring group
asked for the release of Nizar Nayouf and four others, who were imprisoned
in 1992 for membership in an independent human rights network in Syria.
“Nizar Nayouf’s medical situation appears to be critical and he should not
have to endure any more punishment,” said Hanny Megally, executive director
of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. “Syria
is the only country in the Middle East and North Africa where human rights
activists are serving lengthy prison terms. They all should be released.”
Since last year, reports have reached international organizations that
Nayouf is suffering from Hodgkin’s disease, a potentially deadly form of
cancer. Syrian authorities deny that Nayouf has the disease, and will not
permit an independent medical delegation to visit him. Arab and
international rights groups have campaigned for over a year for Nayouf’s
release because of his medical condition.
Human Rights Watch’s letter was prompted by a recent report that Nayouf’s
disease had returned after apparent remission earlier this year, and that
chemotherapy was now necessary to prolong his life.
In addition to Nayouf, four other activists — Bassam al-Shaykh, teacher
Muhamed Ali Habib, and law students Afif Muzhir and Thabet Murad — are
serving sentences of eight and nine years imposed by the supreme state
security court following an unfair trial in 1992.
The full text of the letter to President Asad follows.
BY FEDERAL EXPRESS
19 October 1999
His Excellency Hafez al-Assad
President of the Syrian Arab Republic
Presidential Palace
Damascus, Syria
Your Excellency:
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the extremely difficult
circumstances faced by Nizar Nayouf, the thirty-seven-year-old writer and
human rights activist who is serving a ten-year sentence in solitary
confinement in Mezze military prison in Damascus. According to information
that Human Rights Watch recently received, there is reason to believe that
Nizar Nayouf’s health is again imperiled and that he may urgently require
chemotherapy for treatment of Hodgkin’s disease.
Nayouf is one of five human rights activists who are imprisoned in Syria.
All five were affiliated with the Committee for the Defense of Democratic
Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria, a loosely organized network of young
activists that authorities arrested in late 1991 and early 1992. Nayouf’s
colleagues — Muhamed Ali Habib, Afif Muzhir, Bassam al-Shaykh, and Thabet
Murad — are held in Sednaya prison. All five men were sentenced in 1992 to
eight to ten years by the Supreme State Security Court for membership in an
unauthorized organization, among other offenses.
Human Rights Watch continues to appeal for the release of these human rights
defenders, whose only apparent offense was the peaceful exercise of their
right to freedom of expression and association, which in their case included
criticism of government policies and practices. With releases earlier this
year in Algeria and Tunisia, Syria is the only country in the region where
human rights activists are serving lengthy prison terms.
Among the five Syrians, Nizar Nayouf’s particular situation raises
humanitarian concerns. Last year, Human Rights Watch joined Arab human
rights organizations and other international groups in calling for Nayouf’s
release on humanitarian grounds because he reportedly was suffering from
Hodgkin’s disease and not receiving proper medical treatment. Appeals were
also made to Syrian authorities and ambassadors abroad for independent
medical experts to have access to Nayouf in prison for the purpose of
evaluating his health needs.
In response to this campaign, Human Rights Watch received a letter from His
Excellency Walid al-Moualem, Syria’s ambassador to the United States, dated
December 10, 1998. In this letter, Ambassador Moualem denied that Nayouf had
Hodgkin’s disease and wrote: “Rather, he is suffering [from] hernia of
nucleus pulposus [slipped disc]. The doctors treating him have concluded
that he did not require surgery, treatment with medicines should be
sufficient. His health condition has since improved.” But the information
that we have recently received suggests that Nizar Nayouf was in fact
treated for Hodgkin’s disease some time early in 1999 and that he responded
well to such treatment. However, it now appears that medical tests performed
in August 1999 indicated that the disease had returned in full force, and
that chemotherapy treatment could prolong Nizar Nayouf’s life.
Your Excellency, Human Rights Watch cannot independently confirm this
information, which is why we are writing to appeal to you to intervene in
this case and ensure that Nayouf is immediately released and is able to
receive the medical attention and treatment that he requires.
We hope that as an urgent matter you will direct responsible authorities to
make inquiries about the continuing reports that Nizar Nayouf is suffering
from Hodgkin’s disease and that chemotherapy now may be required to save and
prolong his life. Human Rights Watch also respectfully reiterates our
earlier recommendation to Syrian authorities that a team of independent
medical professionals be permitted to visit Nayouf in prison, review his
medical files, and consult with the Syrian physicians who have been
providing him care and treatment. In our view, such a mission would provide
reassurances to all of those around the world who remain deeply concerned
about Nizar Nayouf.
We thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and your
appreciation of the humanitarian aspects of Nizar Nayouf’s case.
Sincerely,
Hanny Megally
Executive Director
Middle East and North Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
cc:
General Mustafa Tlas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
His Excellency Nasser Qaddur, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Walid Al-Moualem, Ambassador to the United States
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:
Appeals To
His Excellency Hafez al-Assad
President of the Syrian Arab Republic
Presidential Palace
Damascus, Syria
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.