Syrian forces re-arrest dissident writer
Syria, Politics, 3/24/2006

Syrian security forces have arrested the Syrian dissident writer Ali Abdullah after at least four other people including his son were detained for speaking out against the government, human rights activists said.

Both the Syrian Human Rights Organization and Anwar Bunni, a human rights lawyer, said Ali Abdullah, who spent five months behind bars last year, had been arrested at his home for "unknown reasons."

"The pursuit of this campaign of political arrests will cause more suffering," the group said, calling on the government to free all political detainees.

Abdullah was last arrested in May 2005 for reading a message by a Muslim Brotherhood leader during a political discussion at the Atassi salon, a place devoted to reform in Syria.

He was released in November along with 190 political prisoners as part of "overall reforms" in Syria, official media reported at the time.

The rights group also said that Mohammed Najati Tayyara, vice-president of the Human Rights Association in Syria (HRAS), was arrested on Wednesday for unknown reasons.

Bunni added that Tayyara had attended a meeting of Syrian opposition members held in the US last month.

HRAS said Mohammed Walid al-Kabir al-Hosni, a 65-year-old father of four, had also been arrested on Tuesday "after he had been sought by security forces for several months."

He was arrested "probably for having spoken his political opinions in public places," the Syrian human rights group said.

Previous Stories:
  Syria: Domestic opposition gaining strength, but still facing pressures   (3/23/2006)
  Retreat in US efforts to topple the ruling regime in Syria   (3/22/2006)
  Imad Moustapha: Syria doesn't aid terrorists   (3/18/2006)
  Syria: Human rights activist released after brief detention   (3/17/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search