The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Syria.
Description of the facts:
According to the information received, Mr. Kilo was released on 19 October 2006, on a symbolic bail of 1000 Syrian Lira (20 US $).
However, the Observatory recalls that he remains charged with, amongst others, "undermining national pride" and "incitement to racial and sectorial hatred" (articles 285 of the Criminal Code).
Mr. Kilo had been arrested in May 2006, along with nine other human rights defenders and political activists, after signing the "Beirut-Damascus Declaration", a petition drawn up by Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals and human rights activists calling for the improvement of the relations between the two countries (see FIDH / OMCT joint press release dated May 18, 2006 and Observatory press release dated July, 28, 2006).
All of them were released except Mr. Anouar Al Bunni, founding member of the Syrian Human Rights Association (ASDH) and member of the Committee for the Defence of Prisoners of Conscience, who still remains detained at the Adra prison. Mr. Bunni, who was arrested on May 17, 2006 is also charged, in particular, with "undermining national pride" and "incitement to racial and sectorial hatred".
The Observatory thanks all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in favour of Mr. Kilo but calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Anouar Al Bunni. His detention is indeed arbitrary, since it only aims at sanctioning his freedom of expression and his involvement in favour of human rights in Syria.
Background information:
Mr. Michel Kilo was arrested on May 14, 2006 after having been summoned to the Syrian intelligence services. Since that date, he remained detained in the criminal wing of the Adra prison.
Mr. Kilo, who already spent two years in prison in the early 1980s, had also been shortly arrested with others at the end of March 2006, in the context of a wave of repression against civil society activists in Syria.
He is one of the leaders of the Syrian NGOs discussion clubs, which regularly debate on issues related to political reform, democracy and human rights in Syria. He is also a journalist at al-Quds, a leading daily newspaper in Arabic that is published in London.
Actions requested:
Please write to the Syrian authorities asking that they:
i. guarantee under all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Michel Kilo and Mr. Anouar Al Bunni, as well as of all human rights defenders in Syria;
ii. release Mr. Anouar Al Bunni immediately and unconditionally, as his detention is arbitrary;
iii. put an end to any kind of harassment, including on the judicial level, against Mr. Michel Kilo and Mr. Anouar Al Bunni, as well as against all other human rights defenders;
iv. conform with the provisions of the Declaration on Humans Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels", and article 12.2, which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration";
v. more generally, ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Syria in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses :
– M. Bashar al-ASAD, President of the Republic, Presidential Palace, Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Tel/ Fax : + 963 11 33 23 410
– Général Basam ABD AL-MAJID, Ministry of the Interior, Merjeh Circle, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Tel/Fax : +963 11 222 34 28; Email: admin@civilaffair-moi.gov.sy
– M. Muhammad al-GHAFRI, Ministry of Justice, Al Nasr street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Tel/Fax : +963 11 224 62 50
– M. Walid MU’ALLIM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, al-Rashid Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Fax: + 963 11 332 76 20
– His Excellence Ambassador Mr. Bashar JA’AFARI, Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations in Geneva, Rue de Lausanne 72 (3rd floor), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 715 45 60, Email: mission.syria@ties.itu.int
– Ambassador Mr. Badi Khattab, Diplomatic Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic in Brussels, 1 avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: + 32 2 554 19 22; Fax: + 32 2 648 14 85
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Syria in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, October 20, 2006
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need. The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29