In light of continuing reports of human rights violations in Syria, Defend International (DI) launchs its new campaign in which DI urges the Syrian authorities to comply strictly with international human rights law and to respect freedom of opinion, expression, demonstration, assembly and association.
Result of DI Action:
- On December 2007, the Syrian authorities ordered the release 6 youth, on three thousand Syrian pounds each: 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 Chida.
Campaign Status: Closed
Names: Many civilians
Authorities: Syrian
Category: Fear of torture / incommunicado detention / prisoners of conscience / medical concern / use of excessive lethal force
The case:
About 5000 civilians demonstrated in the cities of Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab) and Qamishli on Friday, November 2, 2007, to express their concerns about the possible Turkish military incursion into the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Ranks of security forces surrounded entrances to the cities and used force to disperse demonstrations and prevent residents from demonstrating peacefully. They used excessive force, including beatings, tear gas, and firing of live ammunition. As a result of the gunfire directed against demonstrators youth Eissa Mulla Khalil Hassan was killed.
Date of birth: 1983
Date of death: 02-11-2007
His father’s name: Khalil
His mother’s name: Zekiya
His wife’s name: Zahra
Number of children: 2
DI Defenders experts on Syrian affairs, as well as members of DI Network had provided full reports on the subject.
Wounded:
Civilians were wounded by live bullets:
- Shiyar Ali Khalil, wounded in his chest;
- Bilal Hussain Sayed Saleh, injured in his leg;
- Mussa Sabri;
- Mahmoud Ibrahim, who is in very bad condition;
- Nujdar, seriously injured and burned.
Detainees:
The security agencies surrounded the demonstrators and arrested dozens of them, including women, children and youths:
From Kobani City:
Kheshman Hemma Jediya and Ali Hemma Jediya;
From Al-Reqaa City:
Ali Mahmoud; Mustafa Mahmoud; Moslem and Mohammed Amin;
From Qamishli:
- Pesheng Jamal Sarik, 15 years old;
- Isa Ibrahim Hasso, member of the board, Democratic Union Party, (has been subjected to torture);
- Abbas Khalil Ibrahim, member of the Democratic Union;
- Adel Abu Jumaa, member of “Committee Brothers of Syrian People”;
- Jamil Omer Ibrahim (has been subjected to torture);
- Diljar Saleh, 15 years old;
- Hassen Ahmed Hassen, 16 years old;
- Shekhmos Abdi Hassen, 23 years old, father to two children;
Civilians arrested at the workplace:
Also arrested were workers from a nearby factory, although they hadn’t participated in the demonstrations:
9. Abdul Karim Hussain Ahmed
10. Muslim Selim Hadi
11. Walid Hassen Hussain (has been subjected to torture).
Many are missing:
12. Kaniwar Ahmed Shemsedin;
13. Mohammed Hassen;
14. Tahsi Taha Fetah, (child);
15. Mihedin Shexo;
16. Bedir Khan Ibrahim Mohammed;
17. Musa Sabri Ukel, (married);
18. Gessan Mohammed Salih;
19. Sipan Khalil Ali, child;
20. Abdulrehman Suliman Remo;
21. Shuhlan Mohsin Ibrahim;
22. Shindar Saleh Hassen;
23. Mazin Findiyar Hammo, has been subjected to torture;
24. Mariwan Hamid Osman;
25. Mohammed Halim Ibrahim;
26. Nafih Abdulrehim Kheyda, child;
27. Khalil Mohammed Ismail;
28. Mahmood Shekhmus Shekho;
29. Abdo Kemal Ismail
Government security forces attacked houses near the demonstration area and established checkpoints at the entrances of Kobani and Qamishli cities to prevent civilians from moving around.
DI Demands:
Defend International is gravely concerned for the safety of civilians apparently detained arbitrarily by security forces; some had even not participated in the 2 November events.
The demonstrators have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention, since they were merely exercising their right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a party.
The authorities have to respect and protect human rights in general and the right to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly in particular.
As a state party to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Syria must uphold its obligations as defined in the Convention, including ensuring that citizens will not be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It is simply inexcusable to deliberately target and kill civilians.
Defend International will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary.
DI Demands the Syrian authorities to:
- Order that all civilians arrested in connection to these events, be released immediately in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
- Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of the prisoners;
- Put an immediate end to the harassment, including detention of children and judicial harassment against demonstrators, members of the opposition as well as against all civilians who are engaged in protests;
- Conduct a fair, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations of the use of lethal force against the demonstrators in order to identify the authors, bring them to trial and pronounce sentences proportional to the gravity of their crimes;
- Ensure wounded and injured receive the best medical care possible;
- Do not prevent the free movement of citizens between cities and neighboring provinces; and
- Guarantee respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by Syria.
DI campaign:
Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.
With thanks and appreciation
Defend International
نفس الحملة بالعربية
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His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 332 3410
Your Excellency,
I should like to express my concern to learn that many civilians were reportedly arrested on November 2, 2007 in Qamishli and Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab).
I am concerned that they are detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge Your Excellency to ask the authorities to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or any other form for cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
Furthermore I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and given fair and prompt trials.
I would like to remind the authorities that the detainees must be given immediate and regular access to a legal counsels of their own choosing, their families and any medical treatment they may require.
Yours sincerely
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His Excellency
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
Merjeh Circle
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Email: info@civilaffair-moi.gov.sy
Your Excellency,
I should like to express my concern to learn that many civilians were reportedly arrested on November 2, 2007 in Qamishli and Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab).
I am concerned that they are detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge Your Excellency to ask the authorities to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or any other form for cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
Furthermore I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and given fair and prompt trials.
I would like to remind the authorities that the detainees must be given immediate and regular access to a legal counsels of their own choosing, their families and any medical treatment they may require.
Yours sincerely
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His Excellency General Hassan Ali Turkmani
Ministry of Defence
Omayyad Square
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 223 7842
Your Excellency,
I should like to express my concern to learn that many civilians were reportedly arrested on November 2, 2007 in Qamishli and Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab).
I am concerned that they are detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge Your Excellency to ask the authorities to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or any other form for cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
Furthermore I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and given fair and prompt trials.
I would like to remind the authorities that the detainees must be given immediate and regular access to a legal counsels of their own choosing, their families and any medical treatment they may require.
Yours sincerely
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His Excellency Muhammad al-Ghafari
Ministry of Justice
Al-Nasr Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 666 2460
Your Excellency,
I should like to express my concern to learn that many civilians were reportedly arrested on November 2, 2007 in Qamishli and Kobani (Ayn Al-Arab).
I am concerned that they are detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge Your Excellency to ask the authorities to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or any other form for cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
Furthermore I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and given fair and prompt trials.
I would like to remind the authorities that the detainees must be given immediate and regular access to a legal counsels of their own choosing, their families and any medical treatment they may require.
Yours sincerely,