Syrian dissident journalist Michel Kilo sentenced to three years jail

Reporters Without Borders has spoken of the three-year prison term imposed May 13th 2007 on journalist and writer Michel Kilo for "weakening national sentiment." Another dissident, Mahmud Issa, also got a three-year jail term.

"There is something seriously wrong with a justice system that imposes long jail terms on anyone who dares to express views that are not in line with Baathist thinking," the press freedom organization said. "Journalists and human rights activists have virtually no room to maneuver. Kilo's conviction is yet further evidence, if any were needed, of government intervention in judicial matters."

Reporters Without Borders added "We appeal to President Bashar Al-Assad - who is holding an entirely predictable referendum in two weeks that will allow him to continue his reign - to pardon prisoners of conscience and to put an end to the constant harassment of the most outspoken journalists."

Kilo and Issa were arrested in May 2006 after signing the "Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut" appeal for a radical overhaul of relations between Syria and Lebanon. Another signatory, human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni, received a five-year prison sentence on 24 April.

Reporters Without Borders established a system of sponsorship 16 years ago in which international media were encouraged to adopt imprisoned journalists. More than 200 news organizations, journalists' associations, press clubs and other institutions throughout the world are currently supporting journalists by regularly calling on the authorities to release them and by publicizing their cases.

Kilo has been adopted by "Le Pèlerin" (France), France Bleu Azur (France), various Spanish forums, the Almería Press Association (Spain) and the Calafell City Hall (Spain).

Also, prominent human rights activist Dr. Kamal al-Labwani,

who was sentenced May 10th to 12 years in prison including hard labor on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch had said.

A Damascus criminal court convicted Labwani of "communicating with a foreign country and inciting it to initiate aggression against Syria." Labwani had visited the United States and Europe in the fall of 2005 where he had met with government officials, journalists and human rights organizations.