Husam 'Ali Mulhim, 22: a student in the Faculty of Law at Damascus University
Tareq al-Ghorani, 21: an associate engineer
Maher Isber Ibrahim, 26: owner of a shop
Ayham Saqr, aged 30: works in a beauty salon
'Allam Fakhour, 29: a student in the sculpture section of the Art Faculty of Damascus University
'Omar 'Ali al-'Abdullah, 21: a second-year philosophy student at Damascus University
Diab Siriyeh, 21: a part-time student
These people have been detained for more than a year for participating in a peaceful democratic youth movement.
They are still being held in incommunicado detention, and have reportedly been subjected to torture. They are facing an unfair trial before the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC). Their next hearing session will be on 17 June, when the verdict is expected.
They face two charges: "taking action or making a written statement or speech which could endanger the State or harm its relationship with a foreign country, or expose it to the risk of hostile action" (Article 278 of the Syrian Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment); and "broadcasting of false news" deemed to be harmful to the state (Article 287, which carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment
Amnesty International and other local and international human rights organizations consider them to be prisoners of conscience.
The Syrian, Arabic and international NGOs who signed this statement stand in solidarity with these seven youth and call for their immediate release because they are prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their right to peaceful expression of their beliefs and participation in public life.
Signatures:
Syria Civil Society Revival Committees
Damascus Center for Human Rights Studied
Arabic Committee for Human Rights- ACHR (France)
Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies – DCTCRS (Sweden)
Al-Karama for Human Rights Defense (Geneva)
International Justice Organization.
Sada website for Rights and Freedoms
Kurdish Organizations in Syria for Human Rights – MAF
Kurdish Organization for Defense Human Rights and fundamental Freedoms in Syria –DAD
Iraqi Human Rights Organization – British & Ireland
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – London
Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Researches
Syrian Committee for Human Rights – London
Al-Awn Egyptian Association for Human Rights
Arabic Institute for Support Civil Society and Human Rights (Egypt)
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights
Syrian Organization for Human Rights – Sawasia
Movement SOLID
Syrian Youth for Justice
American Islamic Congress
Susanne Kjaer, Project Manager, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Denmark
Al-Bahrain Youth Association for Human Rights
Al-Takamul Arabic Youth net
Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies (Egypt)
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