Syria releases 30 political prisoners

The Syrian leadership has released 30 political prisoners including members of the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria, and the secretary-general of the Communist Party Political Bureau, Riad El-Turk, who was imprisoned 10 years ago.

Syrian opposition sources said the release was met with great relief in the Syrian streets where this release was considered a step toward factional multiplicity.

The sources expressed the communists' confidence in the government and their desire to open a new page, pointing out that detainees are not practicing any activity that would threaten the country's security, as all the parties are standing in support of the government in its external crisis.

They also hailed the change that took place in the position of the Syrian government towards political prisoners, when the government allowed the prisoners' families to visit them for the first time.