Syria: Communist opposition member released after 27 year in prison

The Syrian authorities on Sunday released communist opposition member Haitham Na'aal after he had spent 27 in jail after he had suffered health problems.

The State security court issued a life-time imprisonment against Naal, who is a member of the " Arab communist Organization," banned in Syria under the charges of carrying out "attacks against western interests and targets in Damascus." The court released sentenced to death five other members in the said organization.

Chairman of the Syrian human rights defense committee Aktham N'eiseh said that Naal ( 51 year old) was released because he had suffered very serious health problems. He added that Naal has heart and stomach problems and doctors have fears that he has prostate cancer.

N 'eiseh described releasing of Naal as a "positive but incomplete step." He called on the Syrian authorities to release two other jailed with Naal and other ten opposition members arrested and convicted in 2001. He said releasing all political detainees in Syria is the only thing which gives and indication on a genuine progress and actual honoring of human rights in Syria.