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Syria Syria: Repression of Activists Continues Unabated Engagement With Damascus Should Include Human Rights Western countries looking to increase engagement with Syria should know that Syrian authorities continue to arrest, try, and harass political and human rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today. In May 2008, Syrian authorities detained a political writer, began the trial of two activists, and restricted the travel of at least seven others. Amidst increasing calls in Western countries to increase engagement with Syria, Human Rights Watch urged that an improvement in the treatment of these activists be at the heart of any future talks with the Syrian authorities. June 12, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Global Internet Freedom: Corporate Responsibility and the Rule of Law Testimony to the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law Human Rights Watch believes that the internet is a transformative force that can help open closed societies and provide the near-instantaneous flow of information to inform the public, mobilize for change, and ultimately hold institutions accountable. In this testimony, Arvind Ganesan, Busines and Human Rights Program director, discusses some governments' restrictions on the internet, ongoing efforts for self-regulation, and prospects for government-led change to ensure respect for human rights. May 20, 2008 Testimony Printer friendly version Arab League: Use Summit to Press Syria on Detained Activists The Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa should raise the case of detained political and human rights activists in his meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad during the Arab Summit in Damascus on March 29-30, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released today. March 28, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch Letter to Secretary General Amr Moussa on Human Rights Issues in Syria We are writing to urge you to use your position as Secretary General of the League of Arab States (“Arab League”) to raise human rights issues at the upcoming Summit of the Arab League in Damascus. This will be the first summit following the entry into force of the Arab Charter on Human Rights (the “Arab Charter”). By adopting the Arab Charter, Arab states have agreed “to place human rights at the centre of the key national concerns:” The Secretary General of the Arab League has a particular obligation to ensure that this goal is achieved. March 27, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: Investigate Killing of Kurds Hold Accountable Those Responsible for Unlawful Killings Syrian authorities should seek an independent investigation into the March 20 shootings by security forces that left three Kurds dead and at least five wounded at a New Year’s celebration, Human Rights Watch said today. The circumstances of the shootings raise concerns that state security forces used unnecessary lethal force in violation of international law. March 24, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Arab League: Reject Proposal to Restrict Satellite Broadcasts Information Ministers’ New ‘Principles’ Would Extend Repression of Free Speech Arab governments should publicly reject those elements of a proposed regional policy on satellite television broadcasting that would seriously restrict freedom of expression and information, Human Rights Watch said today. February 26, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: Opposition Activists Tell of Beatings in Interrogation Authorities Should Release All 12, and Investigate Allegations of Physical Abuse The Syrian government has arbitrarily detained at least 12 activists who attended a meeting of opposition groups in December, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should immediately release the detained activists, dismiss all charges against them, and promptly investigate credible allegations that State Security officials beat at least eight of the activists during interrogation. February 5, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: More Activists Arrested Following Opposition Meeting Fida’ al-Hurani and `Ali al-Abdallah Detained in Last 24 hours Syria should immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Ahmad Tohme, Jabr al-Shoufi, Akram al-Bunni, Dr. Fida’ al-Hurani, and `Ali al-Abdallah from detention, Human Rights Watch said today. Authorities detained the five political activists following a meeting of opposition groups in Damascus last week. December 17, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: Leftist Leader Faces Life in Prison for Phone Call Authorities Should Release Faeq al-Mir at Once The Syrian government should immediately free Faeq al-Mir, a leader of the leftist People’s Democratic Party, and dismiss the politically motivated charges against him, Human Rights Watch said today. November 7, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: End Repression of Human Rights Groups Security Services Regularly Arrest and Harass Activists Syrian authorities should stop restricting the freedom of human rights activists to express their views and to associate as a group, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The country’s security services regularly harass the activists by arresting them and preventing them from meeting or traveling. October 17, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version No Room to Breathe State Repression of Human Rights Activism in Syria
HRW Index No.: E1906 October 17, 2007 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 210 KB, 46 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Talk to Syria for the Sake of Iraqi Refugees By Bill Frelick Published in The Huffington Post This week, the last door slammed shut on Iraqi refugees desperate to flee for their lives. Syria, which had kept its border open long after Jordan and other neighbors had closed theirs to all but a lucky few, has now also imposed a strict visa regime for Iraqis, and the latest reports from the border indicate that the refugee flow has stopped. October 16, 2007 Commentary Printer friendly version Syria: Stop Arrests for Online Comments Two Internet Activists Held Incommunicado, May Be ‘Disappeared’ Syria should immediately release writers and activists detained solely for expressing their opinions or reporting information online, Human Rights Watch said today. Syrian authorities have held two men in incommunicado detention since June for expressing online views that are critical of the Syrian government. Authorities have refused to disclose the whereabouts of the detained men to their families. On September 23, the Supreme State Security Court sentenced a third man to two years in prison for posting online comments that displeased the authorities. October 8, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: Make Missing Translator’s Fate Public Man Missing One Month After Responding to Military Intelligence Summons The Syrian authorities should reveal the fate of Ali al-Barazi, a translator who has been missing for the past month after being summoned by Military Intelligence, Human Rights Watch said today. August 31, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch letter to President Bashar al-Asad on Ali al-Barazi We are writing to express our deep concern about the whereabouts and well-being of Mr. Ali al-Barazi, a 45-year old resident of Jdaydet `Artuz, a Damascus suburb. Mr. al-Barazi, who works as a translator, was called in for questioning by Military Intelligence on July 28, 2007. Mr. al-Barazi left his home alone on that day to report to the Mantaqa Branch of Military Intelligence. He has not been seen since then. It is feared that he has become a victim of an enforced disappearance, a very serious crime under international law. August 27, 2007 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Leading Human Rights Groups Name 39 CIA ‘Disappeared’ Detainees Three Groups File Lawsuit Seeking Information about ‘Ghost’ Detention In the most comprehensive accounting to date, six leading human rights organizations today published the names and details of 39 people who are believed to have been held in secret US custody and whose current whereabouts remain unknown. The briefing paper also names relatives of suspects who were themselves detained in secret prisons, including children as young as seven. June 7, 2007 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Off the Record U.S. Responsibility for Enforced Disappearances in the “War on Terror” This 21-page briefing paper, published by six leading human rights organizations, includes the names and details of 39 people who are believed to have been held in secret US custody abroad and whose current whereabouts remain unknown. The briefing paper also names relatives of suspects who were themselves arrested and detained, including children as young as seven. The list of missing people includes nationals from countries including Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan and Spain. They are believed to have been arrested in countries including Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan, and transferred to secret US prisons operated by the CIA. June 7, 2007 Background Briefing Syria: Four More Activists Sentenced to Prison Government Crackdown Evident in Growing List of Convictions Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should exonerate four political activists sentenced to prison on May 13 for signing a declaration calling for improved Lebanese-Syrian relations, Human Rights Watch said today. May 17, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Syria: Peaceful Activist Gets 12 Years With Hard Labor Labwani’s Sentence Discredits Syrian Claims of Political Reform Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should immediately exonerate prominent human rights activist Dr. Kamal al-Labwani, who was sentenced today to 12 years in prison including hard labor on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said. May 11, 2007 Press Release Also available in
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