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SYRIA: Journalists, bloggers and writers detained, fears for safety
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) | 11 May 2011 RAN 21/11
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) strongly condemns the killing, mass arrests and disappearances of civilians including several journalists, bloggers, writers and activists in the crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests which has been taking place across Syrian cities since mid-March 2011. PEN is seriously concerned for the welfare of at least five journalists and bloggers arrested for writing about the protests. All are held incommunicado andconsidered to be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. There aremounting concerns for their safety. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Syria for the peaceful exercise of their opinions, and urgently seeks guarantees of their safety. It reminds the Syrian authorities of their obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory, and is alarmed at the apparent use of excessive force to suppress peaceful dissent.
According to PEN’s information, anti-government protestswere sparked in mid- March 2011 and have since spread across the country. Mass arrests have been taking place and security officers have responded to the continuing protests with excessive force, using tear gas and live bullets to disperse demonstrators. Scores of civilians have reportedly been killed and many more wounded. The following journalists are amongst those believed to be currently detained:
- Dorothy Parvaz: Aljazeera.net correspondent, arrested on 29 April 2011.
- Mahmoud Issa:Journalist and writer, arrested on 19 April 2011.
- Khaled Sid Mohand,freelance journalist for a number of news outlets
including Le Monde,arrested on 12 April 2011.
- Zaid Mastu,Al-Arabiya netcorrespondent, arrested on 12 April 2011.
- Mohamed Dibo:Journalist and writer, arrested on 12 April 2011.
With the internet and media already severely curtailed in recent years, the Syrian authorities have imposed even greater restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in reaction to recent events. Foreign reporters and correspondents have been asked to leave the country and access to any independent media is denied.
Useful links:
* Amnesty International statement (25 April 2011):
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/syrian-military-assault-against-protesters-must-end-2011-04-25
* Amnesty International Statement (22 April 2011):
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/scores-killed-syria-great-friday-protests-are-attacked-2011-04-22
* Latest BBC news report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13343540
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Please send appeals immediately to the Syrian authorities:
* Condemning the widespreadarrest of journalists and bloggers for
reporting on the recent protests, which the WiPC believes is a clear
violation of their right to freedom of expression;
* Calling on the Syrian authorities to investigate allegations of
torture of detainees;
* Calling for the release of all those currently detained in violation
of Article 19 of theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) to which Syria is a signatory.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax:+ 963 11 332 3410
His Excellency Said Sammour
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
Merjeh Circle
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax:+ 963 11 222 3428
Email: admin@civilaffair-moi.gov.sy
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Syria in your country if possible.
For further information please contact Ghias Aljundi at PEN International Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: Ghias.Aljundi@pen-international.org
Cathy McCann
Researcher, Asia/Middle East
PEN International Writers in Prison Committee
Brownlow House
50-51 High Holborn
London WC1V 6ER.
Tel.+44 (0)20 7405 0338
Fax: +44 (0)20 7405 0339
http://www.pen-international.org
Please note my email address has changed to cathy.mccann@pen-international.org
International PEN is trading as PEN International. International PEN is a company registered inEnglandandWaleswith registration number 05683997. International PEN is a registered charity in Englandand Wales with registration number 1117088. International PEN’s registered office is Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn,London, WC1V 6ER,UK.
