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kbe-13.01.08.16.50.EU
Syria: Release of Jihan Omar and others in spite of ongoing
repression
Widad Akrawi
widad@defendinternational.org
The Release of prisoner of conscience: Jihan Omar and 6 youth
detained over peaceful demonstrations in spite of increased
repression against pro-democracy activists
Oslo-Norway, January 13, 2008 /Defend International/ -- Defend
International welcomes the release of Ms. Jihan Omar and the 6
youth: Sipan Khalil Ali, Pesheng Jamal Sarik(15 years old),
Hassen Ahmed Hassen (16 years old), Tahsin Taha Fattah, Shindar
Salah Ali and Nafi Abdul Raoof Ghida, but regrets that Mrs.
Kawther Tayfor (mother of 10 children), Mrs. Aisha Afendi
(mother of 5 children) and former member of Syrian parliament
Mr. Othman Mohammed Suliman (62 years old) remain in detention.
According to the information received, on January 7, 2008, Ms.
Jihan Omar detained since June 17, 2007, and 6 youth detained
for nearly two months over peaceful demonstrations in the cities
of Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab) and Qamishli on November 2, 2007, were
released. Jihan Omar’s release was ordered on January 2008,
while the release of the 6 youth, on three thousand Syrian
pounds each, was ordered on December 2007 by the criminal court
in the province of Al-Hasaka, 440 miles northeast of Damascus.
However, many human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists
remain prosecuted or detained because of their activities and
peaceful demonstrations in the same two cities: Kobani (Ayn
Al-Arab) and Qamishli. In this regard, Defend International was
informed of the whereabouts of Mrs. Tayfor, Mrs. Afendi and Mr.
Suliman on January 7, 2008. They are presently in arbitrary and
incommunicado detention in Al-Muslmia detention center in Aleppo
without charge or trial.
Defend International points out that these events take place in
a broader context of increasing repression of the Syrian
authorities against human rights defenders, such as pro-reform
students, pro-democracy activists and intellectuals.
Defend International call on Syrian authorities to free Mrs.
Kawther Tayfor, Mrs. Aisha Afendi and Mr. Othman Mohammed
Suliman, as well as the 9 members of “Damascus Declaration” held
in prison.
The health of many detainees inside the detention centers is
very critical.
Defend International urges Syrian authorities to put an end to
any act of harassment against all human rights defenders and
pro-democracy activists in the country, as well as to conform
with Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,
which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in
association with others, to promote and to strive for the
protection and realization of human rights and fundamental
freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as
Article 12.2, which states 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”.
Defend International also reiterate that Syrian authorities
should ensure the safety of the detainees; guarantee not to
detain them incommunicado, and should release immediately and
unconditionally as they are prisoners of conscience.
About Defend International
Defend International is an independent, voluntary, non-profit
organization. It forms a worldwide community of DI defenders
with members, supporters, activists, donors, friends and
subscribers in every part of the world.
Defend International is working for advancing democratization;
for promoting pluralism; for encouraging dialogue between
cultures and civilizations; for securing human rights; for
peace, non-violence, tolerance, justice and equality.
For more information about DI, Ms. Jihan Omar’s case and other
cases, please visit DI Web sites:
www.defendinternational.org
http://arabic.defendinternational.org/
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