Syrian Elector

Trading places

A former political prisoner, 70-year old Ghassan Najjar, has offered to take the place of Fidaa Akram al-Hourani, the head of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change who was arrested in December. 
By OMAR ABDULLATIF

HOMS, May 5, 2008 (MENASSAT) – Ghassan Najjar made his unusual proposal in an article which has been published by many opposition and independent websites and newspapers in Syria.

"An educated militant lady such as Dr. Fidaa al-Hourani has been suffering from sickness and imprisonment for more than three months. Her Palestinian husband, Dr. Gazi al-Alyan, has been deported. No one is hearing her suffering, her retching or even her roaring. So I'm offering myself to the security services on the condition that this fine woman, the head of the Damascus Declaration, is released. I do this so that history wouldn't say that the proud Syrian people no longer has any gentlemen and doesn't respond to the voices of our women."

Najjar assured MENASSAT that he is serious about his proposal, saying, "I am ready to take al-Hourani's place in jail. This is an honor to me. As an Arab society, we don't accept a woman staying in jail without getting any help."

The Syrian authorities so far haven't reacted to Najjar's proposal. But Najjar points out that even if al-Hourani's case has already been referred to the court system, it is perfectly possible for President Bashar Assad to order her release on humanitarian grounds alone. Al-Hourani is suffering from kidney disease and has had to be hospitalized once already since her imprisonment.

Executions Could Strain Syrian-Saudi Relations

01-May-08 _ The recent executions of three Syrians convicted of drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia may mark a downturn in the already frosty relationship between the two countries.

Syrian national Ibrahim al-Jarkh was beheaded on April 25, eight days after the execution of two other men, Feras al-Aghbar and Feras al-Maktabi. All three were executed in Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Dozens of people with relatives detained in Saudi Arabia staged protests in Damascus following the executions. At protests outside the Saudi embassy and Syrian interior ministry, participants held signs aloft calling on President Bashar al-Assad to "save our families and brothers from Saudi Arabia's unpredictable verdicts."

State-run television reported the demonstration in some detail, and other media gave broad coverage to news of the executions.

As a local human rights activist pointed out, "It's well known that no demonstrations are allowed in Syria unless they have a green light from the authorities. This appears to be a move against the Saudi government."

Jailed Syrian rights activist wins award from Ireland

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 1, 2:25 PM ET

One of Syria's most prominent pro-democracy activists won an Irish award Thursday for his work trying to promote human rights for prisoners, political parties and journalists in his homeland.

But Anwar al-Bunni has yet to hear of the accolade. The 49-year-old lawyer has been imprisoned since May 2006 after Syrian President Bashar Assad launched a crackdown against opposition voices demanding greater freedoms.

Irish President Mary McAleese presented the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to al-Bunni's wife, Ragheda Issa Refki, at a Dublin City Hall ceremony attended by politicians and ambassadors. Refki received two standing ovations, as well as a hug from the Irish head of state.

McAleese said promoting human rights in a one-party state like Syria was "a very, very lonely place. It takes a very, very special person like Anwar al-Bunni to confront the extraordinary range of forces arrayed against him."

She expressed hope that the award would "send a message to his oppressors."

Syria: Attack against human rights defender Karam Ibrahim Yousef

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and writer Karam Ibrahim Yousef was shot in the head on 20 March 2008. Karam Ibrahim Yousef has written extensively in defence of the human rights of the Kurdish community in Syria.

Further Information

Posted 17/04/2008 On 20 March 2008, Karam Ibrahim Yousef was reportedly shot in the head by Syrian Security Forces whilst photographing the national Kurdish celebrations for their traditional new year, Nawrooz, in the city of Qamishli. He was hospitalised for his injuries and has recently been released, although his condition remains critical. While no charges have yet been brought against him, he is currently being subject to regular interrogations by the authorities.

Front Line believes that the attack against Karam Ibrahim Yousef is related to his legitimate human rights activities, in particular his work to defend the rights of the Syrian Kurdish community. Furthermore, Front Line believes that this attack represents part of a trend of escalating intimidation and acts of hostility against human rights defenders in Syria. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Karam Ibrahim Yousef and fears that he may be subject to ill-treatment during interrogations.

Syria: President's brother-in-law 'accused of US-backed coup'

Damascus, 9 April (AKI) - Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law has reportedly been arrested for aiding a possible US-backed coup against the Syrian regime, according to reports in various internet sites and newspapers of the Syrian opposition on Tuesday.

Al-Assad then sacked his brother-in-law, Assif Shawqat (photo), from his post as military intelligence chief, while the Syrian regime tried to keep media officials from confirming or denying the arrest, according to Arab satellite TV network Al-Arabiya.

According to the report, before his assasination, the leader in Lebanon's militant Shia group Hezbollah, Imad Mughniyeh, told al-Assad about Shawqat's betrayal, having taken advantage of his position as head of intelligence.

Imad Mughniyeh was the intelligence chief of Hezbollah's secretive military wing, the Islamic Resistance. He was killed in a bombing in Damascus on 13 February.

Reportedly, Shawqat had contacts with US intelligence and was planning a coup to unseat al-Assad.

Members of the Syrian opposition do not exclude the possibility that Shawqat's detention was done to please certain western and Arab countries who consider him the mastermind behind the assassination of former Lebanese president Rafik Hariri.

Shawqat is married to Assad's sister, Bushra al-Assad who is now in Paris, France with her children.

SYRIA: Joint action in support of Mazen Darwish

CAIRO, April 7, 2008 (EOHR/IFEX) – Thirty-five members and partners of IFEX and the Arab Working Group call for support for journalists and activists facing harassment and detention prior to the trial of human rights activist and journalist Mazen Darwish.

The following is a joint letter by 35 members and partners of IFEX and the Arab Working Group to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

President Bashar al-Assad
Office of the President
Presidential Palace Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid St.
Damascus, Syria
Fax: + 963 11 332 3410

Dear President Bashar al-Assad,

We, the undersigned organizations dedicated to freedom of expression, call upon the Syrian government to drop the charges against Mazen Darwish at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Darwish is facing a military court trial in April 2008. The Syrian government should also allow activists and journalists to freely practice their work without being prosecuted or tried before military courts.

On March 17, Darwish stood before the Damascus Military Court facing charges of "libeling and insulting the State Administrative bodies" after the Adra Police Station referred him to the Military Prosecution Office. The trial was postponed until 15 April to summon prosecution witnesses to testify. Mazen Darwish is the director of SCM and is a prominent human rights and freedom of expression activist.

Syrian writer sentenced to four year in jail

Ahed Al-Hindi

The Supreme State Security Court in Damascus has sentenced yesterday (April.8.2008) The Syrian poet and writer Firas Saad to four years in jail on charges of "disseminating false information that could weaken the nation's morale.". The verdict is related to Saad's articles published on the internet criticizing The Syrian regime and asking for more freedom in the country.

Three Civilians Killed by Syrian Authorities amidst Celebrations

Tharwa Exclusive
Ahed Al Hendi

Syrian security officials killed three Kurdish civilians today, March 20 2008, after they left a celebration commemorating the holiday of Newroz, an important holiday celebrated by Kurds worldwide. The killings occurred in the city of Qamishli in northern Syria. Many others were injured and are currently in serious condition, while dozens more have been arrested.

Newroz is a national Kurdish festival celebrated each year on the 21st of March to welcome Spring, celebrations are often held outdoors. Syrian authorities frequently ban people from celebrating the holiday in their ongoing attempt to smother all expression of Kurdish national sentiments.

Syria expands "iron censorship" over Internet

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian authorities have ordered Internet cafe users to reveal their identity, the latest measure in their "iron censorship" of cyberspace, a Syrian monitoring group said on Thursday.

Security officials ordered Internet cafe owners this week to take down the names and identification cards of their clients as well as the times they come and leave, Mazen Darwich, head of the Syrian Media Centre, told Reuters.

The records are to be presented regularly to the authorities, who targeted bloggers and Internet writers in recent months as part of a renewed campaign against dissent.

"These steps are designed to terrorise Internet users and spread fear and self censorship in violation of the right to privacy and free expression," Darwich said.

"The government has been methodical in extending the scope of its iron censorship," he said.

There was no comment from the government. Officials had said Internet controls were needed to guard against what they described as attempts to spread sectarian divisions and "penetration by Israel".

Several Internet cafes confirmed the new regulations.

Restrictions have also increased on surfing the World Wide Web and online publishing. An increasing number of Syrians who have voiced opinions on the Internet were being jailed, Darwich said.

Syria censors the internet

They know where you live and they're coming for you!
By Sylvie Barak

THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT is cracking the whip of "iron censorship" by forcing internet café users to sign in with their real names and by providing ID, a Syrian monitoring group told Reuters.

The Syrian Media Centre, which keeps its eye on media 'freedom' in the country, reckons that this is the government's latest attempt to silence the voice of public opinion against the repressive Baath Regime. Bloggers have been using sites like Googleblog and the Arab Maktoobblog to speak out about anything from public services to politics. But now these sites have been blocked and head of the Syrian Media Centre, Mazen Darwich, reckons that blogging will now become an even greater risk with dreadful prices to pay. "The government has been methodical in extending the scope of its iron censorship," he said.

In attempts which Syrian government officials reckon are necessary to 'protect' the country from what they describe as attempts to spread sectarian violence and "penetration by Israel", Internet café owners will now be forced to take down the ID card information of every client as well as the time they entered and left.

According to the Syrian media watchdog, many Syrians who have blogged against the regime have already been thrown in prison and 153 Internet sites have had their access blocked. Facebook and Youtube are strictly banned, as are, unsurprisingly all opposition party sites and Lebanese news sites which dare to protest Syria's meddling.

Syria is by no means the only country which censors the Internet and spies on web users, China recently introduced similar draconian regulations. While the US has been up to it all along.

14 Mar 2008 | 13:55 GMT  _ the NQUIRER