Syria releases persons demonstrated during the war on Iraq

The Syrian authorities last Thursday released 7 Syrians who took part in April 2003 in a demonstration in Darayya city near Damascus during the war on Iraq.

The Human rights society in Syria explained in a statement that the released persons were within 11 detainees detained on April 30, 2003 over their participation in a peaceful demonstration during the American invasion of Iraq during which they chanted slogans like " fighting bribing, protection of the environment and boycotting the American goods." The statement added that a court tried the demonstrators by the end of 2003 and issued sentences ranging between three to four year imprisonment.

The society called for releasing the other 4 detainees and all detainees of opinions and conscience and congratulated the released persons over restoring back their freedoms after they had benn detained and tried " in contradiction of national laws and international norms which guarantee the right of man to peaceful demonstration and in taking part in the public life."