Another Syrian Damascus Declaration signatory arrested as crackdown continues
Syria, Politics, 1/15/2008

The organization ARTICLE 19 said Syria on January 7 arrested opposition activist Mohammed Haji Darwish as part of a crackdown on signatories to the "Damascus Declaration."

Darwish's arrest brings to nine the number of signatories arrested since December 2007. The Damascus Declaration, issued in 2005, calls for democracy and political change in the country. It is backed by activists from different political standpoints and members of banned opposition parties.

The arrests follow the formation, in December 2007, of a National Council charged with implementing the Damascus Declaration. In December alone, the authorities arrested more than 40 signatories of the Damascus Declaration, 33 of whom were released within a few days.

"The Damascus Declaration is a legitimate form of expression, protected under international law. Instead of attacking and silencing dissenting voices, the Syrian authorities should welcome such much needed democratic debate and initiate a dialogue with civil society," said Dr. Agnès Callamard, Executive Director, ARTICLE 19.

Earlier this month, the Syrian authorities arrested writer and journalist Fayez Sara, also a signatory to the Damascus Declaration. His arrest came shortly after his condemnation in a TV program on 1 January 2008 of arrests by the Syrian authorities of other members of the Damascus Declaration.

The organization said that Syria has an obligation, under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is a State Party, to protect rather than undermine the right to freedom of expression.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian arrests of those calling for democratic change   (12/18/2007)
  Two internet Syrian activists held incommunicado, may be 'disappeared'   (10/16/2007)
  Syrian dissident released after 27 months detention   (9/14/2007)

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