EU calls for release of all political prisoners

The Presidency of the European Union office in Damascus issued a statement on January 19 in which it welcomed the release of the political prisoners Riad Seif, Mamoun al-Homsi, Habib Aisa, Fawaz Tello and Walid al-Bunni in Syria, calling for the release of all political prisoners.

The statement noted that the EU presidency considers this as a positive gesture. The Presidency after receiving news of the release of the said prisoners expressed its hope that this development will be followed by the immediate release of all remaining political prisoners and will be confirmed as a first step towards greater political freedom and the full implementation of international human rights standards in the Syrian Arab Republic.