Liberal Students Union
Hassan Saleh, father of journalist Jihad Saleh, received a telephone call today, 21 December, threatening to kidnap his son. "We know where your son lives and we will take care of him in our own way," the voice on the phone said.
Jihad Saleh is a Syrian journalist living in exile in Lebanon. He received refugee status in Lebanon after facing pressure from Syrian authorities for his human rights activism and political writings, in particular for his participation in the Samir Kassir Press Freedom Prize of 2007. His father Hassan Saleh is a former secretary of the Yakiti Party in Syria and now a member of the party's political office. He received the phone call at 12 PM on 21 December from an unknown Lebanese number.
Jihad Saleh confirmed to us that he considered the call a personal threat from Syrian intelligence, probably due to his writings for the Thawra Project and participation in a press conference to discuss the latest Syrian opposition visit to the White House. Members of the Syrian opposition residing in Lebanon have received similar threats over the past months.
We, the Liberal Students Union, condemn these terrorist-like tactics of the Syrian intelligence against the pen and peaceful activity by threats, intimidation and murder. The latest communication received by Mr. Hassan Saleh from Lebanon indicates the continued presence of Syrian intelligence in the country and their ability to commit large-scale subversive acts.
We hold the Syrian intelligence fully responsible if any harm should come to Jihad Saleh during his stay in Lebanon.
We seize this opportunity to appeal to the free nations of the world to find a solution for Syrians exiled in Lebanon, including journalist Jihad Saleh and many others, where their lives are in danger and under threat of Syrian intelligence active in the country
Liberal Students Union
12/21/2007
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