Amnesty International call on for release of Syrian detainees
Syria, Politics, 5/28/2005

Amnesty International called for the release and the dropping of charges against Syrian human rights defender Muhammad Ra'dun, head of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights-- Syria (AOHR-S).

Amnesty International said last week: Lawyer Muhammad Ra'dun, aged 56, was arrested at his office in Latakiya, on Syria's west coast, on 22 May by Political Security officers. He is charged with "disseminating false information" in apparent connection with statements made by the organisation. He was initially held at the Political Security branch in Latakiya then transferred to a Political Security branch in Damascus. He has not been allowed visits from a lawyer or from his family. It is not known which court he will be tried in.

Amnesty International added: Muhammad Ra'dun is one of a number of human rights defenders currently arrested or on trial in Syria. Nizar Ristnawi, a founding member of the AOHR-S remains held in incommunicado detention at an unknown location, without charge and without access to visits from his family or a lawyer, since his arrest on 18 April. 'Ali al-'Abdullah was arrested on the night of 15/16 May and is reportedly being held in incommunicado detention at the al-Jebeh Political Security Branch in Damascus, charged with "promoting an illegal organisation." The decision of the Supreme State Security Court is expected on 26 June regarding the case of Aktham Nu'ayse, President of the Committee for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights, who was arrested on 13 April 2004 and is also charged with "disseminating false information," as well as "opposing the objectives of the revolution."

Muhammad Ra'dun is one of several human rights defenders in Syria -- including Haytham al-Maleh, Anwar al-Bunni and Razan Zaytouneh -- who are prevented from leaving the country. On 23 November 2004 Muhammad Ra'dun and his colleague Dr Mahmoud al-'Aryan were prevented from travelling to a human rights conference of the AOHR in Egypt.

Amnesty International repeats its call to the Syrian authorities to lift travel restrictions imposed on human rights defenders and to end the pattern of harassment and arrests against them.

Previous Stories:
  Acts of detention in Syria against civic group members   (5/25/2005)
  Damascus to sue Rifaat al-Assad legally if he returns back   (5/21/2005)
  In a new change: Syrian official coverage for a sit in   (5/16/2005)

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