By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria – Twelve Syrian pro-democracy activists are currently on trial in Syria for demanding democratic reform and respect for human rights. The activists face up to 15 years in prison.
The activists were arrested between December 2007 and January 2008. The arrests occurred after the activists organized and attended a meeting of the opposition coalition, the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC). Formed in October 2005, the DDDNC is an unauthorized coalition of political parties, human rights organizations and pro-democracy activists. The DDDNC joins Arab nationalists, Islamics, Kurds, leftists and liberals.
The activists are charged with “weakening national sentiment”, “broadcasting false or exaggerated news which could affect the morale of the country”, joining “an organization formed with the purpose of changing the financial or social status of the state” and “inciting sectarian strife.” The trial is currently taking place before the Damascus Criminal Court. The verdict is expected on October 29.
Initially, the State Security Branch held the activists incommunicado in Damascus for up to several weeks. According to the activists, they were beaten and coerced into signing false confessions during the confinement. The activists have restricted access to attorneys. Furthermore, attorneys are being denied access to activists’ case files.
To date, the trial proceedings have been marked by serious irregularities. Syrian authorities have failed to conduct an official investigation even though Amnesty International and several other organizations have raised concern over the allegations of ill-treatment.
Amnesty International considers the activists prisoners of conscience confined solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly and association. Amnesty requests that the prisoners be released immediately and for all charges against them to be dropped.
The DDDNC has called on the Syrian government to suspend the state of emergency in force since 1963. The coalition has also urged the authorities to release all political prisoners; to allow the safe return of Syrian exiles; to abolish Law 49, which makes membership of the Muslim Brotherhood punishable by death; and to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information, please see:
Democracy Digest – Syrian Democracy Activists Face 15 Years in Prison – 9 October 2008
Amnesty International – Pro-Democracy Activists in Syria Face 15 Years in Prison– 8 October 2008
Human Rights Watch – Unfair Trial of 12 Members of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (NCDD) – 17 September 2008
Human Rights Watch – Syria: Repression of Activists Continues Unabated – 12 June 2008
IFEX – Another Detained in Crackdown on Democracy Advocates; At Least Eight Allegedly Beaten, Forced to Confess – 5 February 2008
