Sunday, January 31, 2010

Three years of detention, no convictions – for five Kurdish political activists in Syria

January 30, 2010 by sks

MAD logoSyrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD reports that hearings took place at the Supreme State Security Court in Damascus of five young Kurdish men on 26 January 2010:

  • Nazmi Mohammed,
  • Yasha Qadir,
  • Ahmed Darwish,
  • Dilgesh Shamo Mamo,
  • Tahsin Khayri Mamo.

These young men were arrested on 29 January 2007 in the city of Aleppo by security forces. Their trial has now been postponed for an indefinite time without a reason.

Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD condemns the mock trials convened by the Supreme State Security Court against political activists, and social and cultural activities. These trials are illegal: there are no legal safeguards to ensure that people can defend themselves against accusations, suspicion and doubt; and confessions are extracted under torture and assault.

This is a violation of the Syrian constitution and laws, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Syrian authorities must abolish these special courts and lift the State of Emergency. Political prisoners must be freed, and a modern law introduced in respect of political parties.

Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD