Syrian Elector

The Tharwa Digest - Volume 1, Issue 1

A biweekly digest of select reports prepared by Tharwa-Syria

Note: All links below are to the original articles in Arabic.

The Otri Government  

The Otri Government is unconstitutional

Tharwa activists continue to monitor the various unconstitutional practices of the ruling regime in Syria. This article argues that, on the basis of Article 122 of the Syrian Constitution, the current government of Prime Minister Naji Otri is itself unconstitutional, because its mandate has never been renewed and its new duties and priorities have never been specified in the aftermath of the presidential referendum on May 27th. Until this happens, the author concludes, all decisions made by the current government can be legally challenged.

External threats do not justify the lack of progress in the fight against corruption

This articles comes as a further criticism of the Otri Government and its lax attitude towards official corruption. The inefficacy and corruption of the Otri Government the article argues, is not the sole problem in the country, but it does represent one of its major problems. External threats should not be used as an excuse to demur in the fight against official corruption, on the contrary, the introduction of the much-needed and longed-for democratic reforms will serve to strengthen the country's position in the face of external pressures.

Municipal Elections

The Tharwa Syria team continued its overage of the electoral processes in the country by monitoring the municipal elections that took place in late August, amidst continuing electoral boycott of the elections partly in response to opposition calls, but mostly as a reflection of the continued alienation that most Syrian electors have vis-à-vis the ruling regime and its institutions. The Tharwa team even carried out a small-scale survey of the attitude of Syrian expatriates to the municipal elections and detected an even more pronounced sense of cynicism, with some complaining against "the unnecessary burden that such formalities pose on state treasury," since their sole purpose is "to bring in new hypocrites and scoundrels to replace old ones."

Syria and Iraq

Syrian and Iraq - Not too Similar

This report argues that despite the fears of many Syrians that increased pressures on the ruling regime might lead to a scenario similar to what has taken place in Iraq, and despite some similarity with regard to the ethnic diversity in both countries, the realities of Syria society are radically different from those prevalent in Iraq, and this will shield it from a potential ethnic meltdown. The main differences between Syria in Iraq can be summarized in four points: 1) the ability of the Syrian activists to create a platform for political dialogue and activity over the last few years despite continuing repression by the authorities, 2) the increased ethnic mixing that took place in the major cities, coupled with the geographical intermixing of communities on the local level, 3) the Syrians are armed with the foreknowledge of what happened in Iraq, and before it Afghanistan and Algeria, and finally, 4) the the discourse of the political Islamist movements in Syria, is much more flexible.

Human Rights

The State of Prisons in Syria (1, 2)

This two part report summarizes the state of the prisons system in Syria, noting its clear inconsistencies with international standards, the spread of corruption in all levels of the system, the inhuman living conditions which most prisoners have to suffer, the special treatment afforded to the rich and powerful, the mixing of political and criminal prisoners, the proliferation of illegal detention centers, the widespread recourse to torture and the lack of access granted to any human rights group, be it domestic or international, among other infractions.

A former Syrian political prisoner sues the ruling regime

Masoud Hamid, a Syrian journalist and former political prisoner, currently living in Paris, and who was imprisoned in 2003 for taking part in a demonstration for Kurdish rights, has moved to sue the Syrian regime for the abuse and torture to which he was subjected while in captivity. More former political prisoners and exiles are said to be contemplating similar moves.

On a related note, the fate of Ali Barazi, a Syrian translator for Human Rights Watch and a translator for the Tharwa Foundation, detained by the military security apparatus since July 28, 2007, and the young internet activist Karim Arbaji, detained since June 7, 2007, remains unknown, with the Syria authorities remaining adamant in denying access to them. Meanwhile, the crackdown against civil liberties continues culminating in a mass arrest of 68 citizens including 22 minors in the township or Turan in northern Syria.

Living Conditions

The news that the Syrian authorities will go ahead with the decision to raise fuel prices by yearend has dismayed most Syrians who are becoming quite vociferous in their criticism of their government's internal policies of late. The recent assertions made by Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Dr Abdallah al-Dardari, to the effect that the government has no choice but to raise the prices of petroleum products to reflect global prices and that the parallel rise of basic consumer items currently taking place in the country will be temporary in nature, and that prices will eventually return to their normal levels, have been received with much skepticism and anger. "Our officials are living in a completely different and separate world than that of the people," complained one Syrian, "there is no sensitivity or logic to anything they say or do. It is simply illogical that prices of petroleum products and most other products be commensurate with international standards when both the salaries and the domestic production capacity is less than 10% of international standards. If they think the people are simple and stupid, they should know that they are limits to that."

Meanwhile, prices of basic commodities have risen by a factor of 3o% in comparison to the way they were last year, while the prices of vegetables and fruits have risen by a factor of 200% !! Add to that raising costs of electricity and raw materials, and it is not wonder that some Syrian youth are beginning to cry out: "find us a new homeland."

Fear of torture or ill-treatment

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 24/044/2007 _  12 September 2007

UA 242/07        Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ possible prisoner of conscience                 

SYRIA -  Kareem 'Arabji (m), aged 29,

Kareem 'Arabji has been held incommunicado by Military Intelligence in the capital, Damascus, since his arrest on 7 June. Amnesty International believes that he is now being held at the Palestine Branch of Military Intelligence in Damascus, where he is at grave risk of torture and ill-treatment. He may be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful expression of his political views.

According to information received by Amnesty International, Kareem 'Arabji, a business consultant, is being detained for his role in managing an online youth forum, www.akhawia.net. Prior to his arrest he was summoned several times to the al-Muntaqa (Area) Military Intelligence branch in Damascus in relation to the online forum. Since his arrest he has not been charged or otherwise brought before a court and has not been granted access to a lawyer or to his family.

In June 2007, seven men were sentenced to prison terms of either five or seven years after an unfair trial, apparently for publishing pro-democracy material on the same website. They were convicted of 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 under Article 278 of the Syrian Penal Code. The group all said that confessions had been extracted from them under torture while they were detained incommunicado (see UA 41/06, MDE 24/019/2006, 17 February 2006, and follow-ups.)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Torture is widespread in Syrian detention and investigation centres, particularly during periods of pre-trial incommunicado detention, and the Palestine Branch is renowned for being one of the worst centres for detainees. Over the years, Amnesty International has documented 38 types of torture and ill-treatment used against detainees in Syria. Confessions extracted under duress are systematically used as evidence in Syrian courts, and the defendants claims of torture are almost never investigated. In 2007, according to reports received by Amnesty International, at least three individuals have died as a result of torture and ill-treatment in custody in Syria.

Syrian Citizens Rights: Historical and Cultural

Ghassan Al Mufleh

Part (4)

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Article five of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Article five of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On one cold November morning in 1979, while on a personal visit to Beirut, at the immigration and passports office in the Jdeidet Yabbous border crossing, I was surprised by the security forces taking me to the immigration officer in order to be deported to Damascus. I was actually surprised how they found out.

As a proof that he can qualify for a good Secret Services officer, the immigration officer asked: where is the mail you are carrying? I answered, I have none. He calls the policeman and asks him to bring a bucket of cold water and a hose. The policeman complied quickly and came back hitting me with all the strength in his fists. He then stopped and asked me to remove my shirt… I did while trembling from both cold and fear… he poured the bucket of cold water over my head… my trembling became intolerable for my soul; my body stopped trembling when he started beating my wet skin with the plastic hose… my body was squirting blood and screams… this is when a real Secret Services man arrived from the other room and yelled at the officer: what are you doing? You are killing the kid!

Syrian Regime Practices: Selected news!

Syrian Regime Practises: Selected news!

Prepared by: Ahed Al Hendi

Sources at Syrian national television confirmed that the journalist Imad Al-Saadi disappeared more than two months ago.  He stopped coming to work at the television station after his arrest by security authorities and his computer was confiscated by Syrian intelligence.  Sources pointed out that Imad used to view and communicate with the owners of internet sites belonging to the Syrian opposition. 

Sources at the television station suggested that his arrest was the result of denunciations by one of his colleagues, while others noted that no one is certain of what caused his arrest.  Imad is known to be of high moral character.  His wife is ill and his children have no knowledge of their father's fate.   

Syrian Citizens Rights: Historical and Cultural

Ghassan Al Mufleh

Part (3)

We previously went through the third article of the Syrian constitution which represents a case of negative discrimination against non-Muslim Syrian citizens and thus contradicts the most basic of human rights and true citizenship.

The same article is found in the constitution of 1950, which despite all its negative aspects has no other flaw than its third article. Thus one has to pay attention to the fact that some of the opposition forces are calling for a return to the constitution of 1950.

It is certainly their right to do so, however, going back democratically to the old constitution must also mean canceling the third article which prevents any non-Muslim citizen from becoming president of his country.

Constitutions are now the document which proves to which extent a country respects human rights as they appear in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights namely the equality of all races, colors, genders, languages, religions, opinions whether political or not, nationality, social background, wealth, place of birth, or any other aspect as it appears in the second article of the declaration.

Syria without electricity is a safer Syria!

Damascus lives in the dark 5 hours everyday due to lack of electricity
Diram Chammas

It seems that our Syrian regime has failed in all its attempts to turn off the awareness of Syrians that appeared like a tsunami in the last few years all around Syria. Therefore, in order to cover its scandals and corruption which is quickly spreading on the internet and satellite television it has invented new games, similar to the old dirty games as always, extinguishing this awareness and hiding the truth. However, our fierce regime will not be able to hide the truth in darkness because it is impossible as long as the truth is the light that enlightens the darkness .

A Syria without electricity is a safe Syria for our regime and the majority of its mercenaries; this is why they have started to put into practice this idea that will not succeed as long as the sunlight cannot be hidden with a net. When the electricity is off the Syrians will get away from their television screens where they watch everyday dozens of programs on Arab and foreign channels about our regime, its danger, support for terrorism, corruption and aggression on neighboring countries, its relations with evil nations that are known for their limitless terrorism, support for criminals and the talk about the regime's massacres against Syrians in Syria and outside of it. We will not see either the other countries of the world through their channels and the bliss they live in which will motivate us to fight our own hell. We will not listen to the words of freedom, democracy and human rights that light in us the flame of a revolution for life. Certainly we will not hear about strange recipes that we will never taste because of the bliss our regime says we live in.

Syrian Citizens Rights: Historical and Cultural

Ghassan Al Mufleh

Part (2)

The third article of the Syrian constitution adopted after the referendum of 1973 states that:

1. the religion of the president is Islam.
2. Islamic jurisprudence is a main source for legislation.

At the time, it was known that more than 11% of Syrians were of Christian faith, and a small percentage was Jewish, in addition to small percentages of other minorities like Yazidis and Armenians. It is true that their percentages are low, however they are all citizens and citizenship is not earned by percentages but by right and equality of individual citizens.

Before going into a discussion about the marginalization of these citizens we must first point out to an important issue we think still causes controversy:

Some say that the late Hafez al-Assad tried to prevent any mentioning of the president’s faith in his sought constitution, and had to re-write this article under the pressure of the Sunni street. However, we think reality is the following:

This is a justification and a falsification of Syrian history. Assad tailor made the constitution in order to fit him perfectly. This article represents a contradiction to all others about Syria being a popular, democratic, and socialist state as it figures in the first clause of the first article.

The first interrogation session of The Syrian dissident Faek Al Mir

Ahed Al Hendi,Tharwa

The First Criminal Court in Damascus under Judge Mohidin Halak held its first open interrogation session of Syrian dissident, Faek Al Mir on Wednesday, August 29.

A group of supporters, colleagues, a representative of the American Embassy, and Europeans diplomats attended the session.

 

During the session, Al Mir refused accusations of belonging to the Lebanese "March 14" alliance, which is against the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. The defense hearing was postponed until October 7.

Al Mir also denied the Syrian intelligence's claim that a phone call from Al Mir to Elias Attalah, a leading member of the "March 14" group, implies that he has a relation with the Lebanese group.

After Mr. Al Mir finished his speech, the judge postponed the defense session and accused Al Mir of plotting and conspiring with hostile opponents of Syria, attacking the ruling regime, showing open hostility to the government's policy, and frequent communication with "March 14" members.

   

 

Al Mir was arrested in December 2006 after offering his condolences to the family of Lebanese politician, George Hawi, who was assassinated in Beirut in 2005. Hawi was a former leader of the Lebanese Communist party and an ally of Syria during the civil war, but had recently turned against Damascus.