M. Al-Bunni has been arrested in May 2006 and detained for almost one year, after signing the Damascus-Beirut Declaration, a petition signed by more than 300 intellectuals and human rights defenders from Syria and Lebanon, calling for the improvement of the relationships between both countries. The charges were based on article 286 of the Criminal Code, relative to the « publication of false information » which provides a sentence of three-years imprisonment.
FIDH recalls that human rights defenders in Syria have to face a daily repression from the authorities, which keep trying to shut down their freedom of expression.
FIDH urges the Syrian authorities to guarantee Al-Bunni’s rights in the framework of an impartial hearing if he decides to appeal his sentence. FIDH also asks Al-Bunni’s release as well as the release of all prisoners of opinion sentenced and detained in Syria and among them: ’Aref Dalila, Riyad Dirar, Michel Kilo, Mahmoud Eissa, Kamal Labwani, Fa’eq Al-Mir, Nizar Rastanawi and Habib Salah.
FIDH urges the Syrian authorities to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of the prisoners of opinion and recalls Syria’s obligations under international human rights conventions.