Syria detains 19 persons under the charge of political party affiliation

The human rights organization in Syria said that the authorities detained 19 persons in Qatana area to the south west of the Syrian capital Damascus, over suspicion they belong to an Islamic party.

In a statement the judiciary committee said that most of the detainees are students in a campaign carried out last Friday.

The statement which was circulated Monday called for the immediate release of the detainees and to bring them to judiciary so as to ensure just trial and they are not tortured or maltreated. A source close to human rights organizations said that the detainees are accused of being members or supportive of the banned Islamic liberations party ( Hizb al- Tahrir al-Islami ) in Syria.