Damascus calls al-Atasi Forum to stop activities

The Arab Human Rights Organization in Syria announced that the Syrian authorities asked "al-Atasi Forum" for national dialogue to stop its activities.

In a statement, the organization said that the authorities sent "security summons" for the chairperson of the forum Suheir Atasi and member of its board Jihad Masouti to notify them about the decision to block the Forum.

However, the Forum said it rejects this decision because it was not issued by an official side, and asked the administration to "officially notify it in writing," adding that it will continue its work and will convene a seminar on Saturday as scheduled before.

The Syrian authorities arrested 8 members of the Forum's board members one month before under the charge of "disseminating thoughts of the Muslim Brothers group." They were released one week later.

Al-Atasi forum is the only Forum licensed in Syria since President Bashar al-Assad assumed power in Syria five years before.