By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria – On January 8, former political prisoner and opposition activist, Mohammad Haji Darwish, was arrested. His arrest is the latest in the crackdown on political dissidence in Syria.
The Damascus Declaration, which calls for non-violent democratic change, was written and signed in 2005. On December 1, Riad Seif, a member of Parliament and an opposition spokesman, hosted a meeting of 163 signatories of the Damascus Declaration to call for an end on Syria’s repressive laws and for a renewal of free speech and political organization. In violation of the state’s ban on independent political parties, the attendees created the National Council and elected a president and a leadership committee. US President Bush applauded the creation of the group and stated “the brave men and women who formed this council reflect the desires of the majority of Syrian people to live in freedom, democracy, and peace.”
Beginning on December 9, Syrian authorities began arresting individuals who attended the meeting. On December 9, Syrian security forces arrested over 30 individuals who attended the December 1 meeting, including Dr. Ahmad Tohme and Jabr al-Shoufi, two leaders of the movement. Within a few hours of their arrests, all but Tohme and al-Shoufi were released. More opposition leaders were arrested in the following days; including Fidaa Horani, the president the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and Akram Bunni, an executive member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and brother of a leading political rights lawyer.
For more information, please see:
Daily Star – Syria Arrests Political Activist – Rights Group – 9 January 2008
AFP – Rights Group Says More Opposition Activists Held in Syria – 5 January 2008
Associated Press – Syria Arrests 2 Human Rights Activists – 18 December 2007
AFP – Syria Steps Up Crackdown on Dissidents – 17 December 2007
Human Rights Watch – Syria: More Activists Arrested Following Opposition Meeting – 17 December 2007
International Herald Tribune – Syria Arrests Dozens of Political Dissenters – 13 December 2007
