Damascus: Presidential pardoning cover al-Maleh

Lawyer Anwar al-Bunni has welcomed the decision taken by the military judiciary which includes his client, the chairman of the human rights society in Syria, Haitham al-Maleh, with a pardon issued by President Bashar al-Assad last week for small (minor) crimes.

Al-Bunni considered that the decision is legitimizing the society's work, calling for the release of all political detainees.

Al-Maleh was accused of "unlicensed publication" and "broadcasting news outside the country that undermine the sovereignty of the state" as well as founding a "political society of international characteristics."

The Presidential pardon also included other three persons accused of circulating "Tayarat" ( trends) magazine which is issued by the society and printed in Beirut. In addition to al-Bunni, the opposition lawyer Riad al-Turk also defended al-Maleh.