The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human- rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
URGENT ACTION -OBSERVATORY SYR 002/ 9712 / OBS 020 Harassment Syria 1 December 1997 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders a joint programme of the FIDH and the OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Syria. Description of the facts: The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has just been informed that Mr. Youssef Nasser, lawyer and father of the internationally recognised human rights defender Haytham Manna, former Vice-President of the FIDH, in charge of international issues in The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and Democratic Liberties in Syria, an organisation affiliated to both FIDH and OMCT, has been placed in police custody in Daara, on November 26th 1997. He was questioned for over 7 hours concerning the activities of his son. He was then released after having been informed that his grandchildren were no longer allowed to leave the country. Mr. Youssef Nasser was imprisoned from 1979 to 1985. Since that time he and all his family have been forbidden to leave Syria. Both Mr. Youssef Nasser and his wife have already been interrogated concerning the activities of their son in exile, in particular his relations with the OMCT and his contacts in the United Nations. The Observatory is particularly concerned at these events which fall within the framework of a persistent pattern of repression practised by the Syrian authorities against human rights defenders in Syria (see Urgent Action by the Observatory SYR 001/9709/ OBS 009) and their families. Action requested Write to the Syrian authorities urging them to: i. guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of Mr. Youssef Nasser and his family, including the right to leave the country: ii. put an and to all forms of discrimination and repression against defenders of human rights or their families and adopt with the utmost urgency every measure liable to guarantee effectively to non-governmental human rights associations and their members the means to act freely and without impediment for the promotion and defence of fundamental rights and liberties. iii. publicly proclaim their dedication to the rights of individuals, non-governmental organisations to promote and protect human rights and fundamental liberties ; iv. more generally to abide by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the international Conventions ratified by Syria; Addresses: His Excellency President Hafez al-Assad, Presidential Palace, Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Telex : 419160 PRESPL SY His Excellency Mahmud al-Zu'bi, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic His Excellency Hussain Hassun, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, Al-Nasr Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. The Syrian Embassy in your respective countries. Paris - Geneva, 1 December 1997 Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply
