Syrian Elector

Syrian Citizens Rights: Historical and Cultural

Ghassan Al Mufleh

Part (1)

Ever since the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 10.12.1948 (resolution 217A D3) there has been various interpretations of this treaty which has become a series of necessary laws in the countries of the modern world. Ever since the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 10.12.1948 (resolution 217A D3) there has been various interpretations of this treaty which has become a series of necessary laws in the countries of the modern world. This treaty did not appear from void, but resulted from humanity’s long lasting struggles.

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We can proclaim that the declaration is a lucid legal abstraction of mankind’s historical and cultural experience in order to achieve legislations guaranteeing dignity, life, and freedom for all human beings. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with its thirty pages and less than a thousand words is no longer merely a legal and constitutional achievement of mankind’s historical experience, but has become a cultural, moral, and legal ground for its institutions around the world and within each state.

In an unprecedented manner, anyone’s responsibility becomes the responsibility of mankind as a whole, an aspect that holds great significance in today’s global world. The declaration produced numerous international treaties and pacts regarding the rights of people, whether individuals, groups, nations, ethnicities, religions, sects, rich, or poor: civil, economic, political, and cultural rights, women’s and children’s rights, minorities and people’s rights to determine their destiny, workers’ rights to oppose the greed of employers… These legislations have become a pact that unites peoples in their freedom and their need for freedom regardless of color, race, religion, nation, and nationality.

Syrian Citizen Arrested for Voting "No" in Presidential Referendum

A Syrian citizen was arrested by the intelligence apparatus after voting "No" in the referendum for President Bashar Asad.

One month ago, a branch of the air force intelligence in Damascus summoned the citizen, Misbah Aladdin, to interrogate him, and he has been since been in prison. The security agency has also been reluctant to inform his father that his son is being held within the branch.

It is believed that Aladdin was summoned for investigation then arrested for his negative vote in the recent presidential referendum according to a report by the Syrian Human Rights Organization. This report said that this citizen is still being held incommunicado since his arrest on this branch. Furthermore, the agency refuses to disclose the existence of the citizen and prevents his family to visit him.

There are no secret ballots in Syria for the presidential referendum. Representatives of the security apparatus can easily see who votes "No" and often look at the ballot before the electors put them into the ballot box. The consequence is that, in most cases, citizens vote "Yes" by fear, and those who dare to vote "No" fear punishment

Translated for Tharwa by Ahed al-Hendi.

Syrian Activist Threatens Hunger Strike

Ahed Al-Hendi, Tharwa

A statement by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Syrian opposition activist and lawyer Anwar Bunni has threatened to go on food and water strike until death because of the psychological terror campaign led against him by the Adra Central Prison security, which confiscated all of Mr. Bunni's personal possessions on Sunday morning.

According to the Syrian Observatory, Mr. Bunni's decision came after he refused to sign an investigation record on an old memorandum in which he criticized the Prisoners' Association and the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Diyala al-Hajj Arif.

The statement added that the memo was originally presented to the court a few months ago, stating "we denounce strongly the repeated aggression against the lawyer and activist Anwar Bunni."

Mr. Bunni was sentenced for five years by the First Criminal Court in Damascus on 24/04/2007 and issued a fine of 100,000 Syrian pounds. He has been detained since May 17 2006, after he signed the Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut deceleration.

Travel Ban on Syrian Activist Riad Seif

Press Statement

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 15, 2007

We call on the Syrian Government to allow former Member of Parliament and prisoner of conscience Riad Seif to travel outside the country to receive urgent medical treatment. The Syrian Government prohibits hundreds of its own citizens, such as Mr. Seif, from leaving the country to see family members, pursue educational opportunities, seek desperately needed medical care, or other legitimate purposes. These citizens are denied freedom of movement simply because they have peacefully exercised the freedom to question the political system under which they live. We urge the Syrian Government to ensure that its domestic laws and practices are in keeping with its international human rights obligations, and to immediately and unconditionally lift the travel ban on Riad Seif and all other Syrians who are prevented from leaving their own country because they dare to call for political reform.

2007/695

In solidarity with the former MP Riad Saif

Ahed Al Hendi, Tharwa

A group of Syrian activists have launched a statement in solidarity with the former MP Riad Saif, asking liberals across the world to stand together against the dangerous travel ban that is threatening the life of Mr. Saif.

This story was published on the front page of the Lebanese newspaper Al-mustaqbal on Wednesday August 15, 2007. Among the most prominent signatories of the statement were: Mamoun Homsi, former Syrian MP, Khalil Hussein, Director of the Syrian Association for Human Rights and Civil Society, Burhan Ghalioun, Director of the Centre d'Etudes sur l'Orient Contemporain (CEOC) in Paris and professor of political sociology at the Universite de Paris (La Sorbonne).

Five organizations in Damascus have appealed to President Bashar Assad about this case and asked him to personally intervene for humanitarian reasons and allow Mr. Saif to travel outside the country to receive urgent medical treatment for advanced prostate cancer . Additionally, they have asked President Asad to prevent the Syrian security from issuing travel bans, confirming that this penalty - commonly used against activists and opponents of the regime - is unconstitutional and unsanctioned by Syrian law.

After the authorities prevented him from leaving the country, Mr.Saif appealed to human rights organizations so that he could receive his medical treatment. "After reaching a dead-end, I have no alternative but to appeal to all those who are interested in human rights issues in Syria and in the world, and I am hoping it will help me get my natural and legitimate right to receive medical treatment abroad," Saif said.

Press release from former member of parliament, Riad Saif: on his ban from travel in spite of needed health treatment

More than two months after tests confirmed that I have an advanced stage of prostate cancer, I submitted to the Syrian authorities a request to travel for treatment outside the country. I have ascertained that the necessary treatment is not available in Syria, while it is available in some developed countries with a high probability of recovery of up to 90 percent. So far, all of my efforts have been doomed to failure: after much procrastination by the Syrian authorities (mokhabrat) I just received a refusal of my request from them, despite the heightened state of the disease, my exacerbated symptoms, and fears that the disease may spread.

I was subjected to a similar experience earlier during my time in prison: tests showed on 2/7/2005 that I had a front artery blockage which required open heart surgery to replace it. After I was released on 01/18/2006, I applied to travel outside the country to conduct the necessary surgical work. My request was also turned down.

Now, with all doors closed with the authorities, I have decided to publicize my case among all individuals and organizations interested in human rights issues in Syria and the world. I hope that they can help me to affirm my right to receive appropriate health treatment abroad, so that I can live the rest of my life naturally.

Riad Saif

Damascus - 13/8/2007