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ACTION REQUEST

Syria: Fear over life of a detainee


                          Case SYR 220699

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention 
in the following situation in Syria.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat has just been informed of the grave concern 
for the physical and psychological integrity and the life of a detainee, 
Mrs. Douha Ashour Al-Askari in Syria.

According to the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Freedoms 
and Human Rights in Syria, member of the OMCT network, Mrs. Al-
Askari was arrested in 1993.  In 1994, she was brought to trial and 
sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the State Security High Court, 
on charges of membership of the political party Douha Comunist Action.. 
 In the beginning of her detention, she gave birth to a child, from who 
she was separated.     

According to the information received, although she has completed her 
sentence (4 months ago), the Syrian authorities continue to hold her in 
detention.  

Mrs. Al-Askari has been on hunger strike for more that 10 days, in 
protest against her arbitrary detention.

The International Secretariat of OMCT shares the concerns of the 
Committees for the Defence of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights 
in Syria for the life and the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs. 
Douha Ashour Al-Askari and calls upon the Syrian authorities to release 
her immediately and unconditionally.

Action requested

Please write to the Syrian authorities urging them to

i.  guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs. 
    Douha Ashour Al-Askari and release herimmediately and 
    unconditionally;

ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into her arbitrary 
    detention, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil 
    competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil 
    and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;

iii.ensure in all circumstance respect for human rights and 
    fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human 
    rights standards.

Addresses

His Excellency, President Hafez al-Assad, Presidential Palace, Damascus, 
Syrian Arab Republic

His Excellency, Mahmoud Zuabi, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime 
Minister,  Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic

His Excellency Dr Muhammad Harba, Minster of the Interior, Ministry of 
the Interior
Merjeh Circle, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax+ 963 11 222 3428

Geneva, June 22 1999

The Human Rights Actions Network

Human Rights in Syria


Derechos

The Human Rights Action Network, a project of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.



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