Thirty political prisoners released in Syria

A statement released by the organization of democratic freedoms and human rights in Syria praised the release of Riad al-Turk following 17 years of imprisonment (we reported yesterday that it was 10) and the spokesman for the organization Aktham Neiseh who has been jailed for 7 years together with other 30 political prisoners. The organization also praised this positive initiative which was viewed as marking a change in the Syrian policy towards various self-expression means.

Riad al-Turk used to preside over a dismembered wing of the Syrian communist party which rallies with the ruling Baath Arab socialist party in the nine-party national progressive front.