Another raid and arrest from a house in the Kurdish area of Syria
Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF – reports that Musa Haj Ali, a Kurdish man was arrested by military security from his house, in the village of Gerki Legge near Romelan town in the Kurdish region of Syria. Three cars and more than twenty intelligence security men raided the house in an unprecedented manner.
Musa Haj Ali’s computer and personal effects were taken.
The Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF calls for the cancellation of Emergency Law, which allows the security authorities to arrest citizens without warrants and to expose them to this kind of harassment. This constitutes a violation of freedom and rights of citizens that are constitutionally preserved, such as the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest, and to be brought before a court which meets the legal and constitutional guarantees which adhere to the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
MAF calls for an end to the discriminatory policies that work against the Kurdish people in Syria.
21 December 2009
New Kurdish mass grave found in Iraq – 19 December 2009
Iraq,— A mass grave discovered in northeast Iraq contains dozens of bodies, mostly of women and children believed killed during a crackdown against Kurds by former dictator Saddam Hussein, an Iraqi official said on Saturday.
The grave was originally found nearly two years ago west of Kirkuk, though its discovery was only made public this week after forensic pathologists began examining it, said Majid Abdullah Karim, an official with the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights. Read more
Trial of three political Kurdish women and one man delayed, in Syria
Cases number 3485, and 3486 were adjourned in the Individual Military Court in Qamishli until 17 January 2010 because the detainees were not brought from the prison in Hasakah. Read more
Trial of Kurdish Youths adjourned to 29 December 2009
The trial of five Kurdish youths (number 182 /2009) due to be tried at the Supreme State Security Court [SSSC] in Damascus on 15 December 2009 has been postponed to 29 December 2009 so that the Court can check their file.
The five Kurds on trial are
- Monther Abdulfattah Resho, aged 16 at the time of his arrest in 2008,
- Ciwan Mohammed Ahmed,
- Hassan Khalil Qudo,
- Khalil Feedee Dahli and
- Manan Ahmed Sido
The charges are in accordance with Article 267 and 302 of the Syrian Penal Code. Read more
Protests in Iraq – Turkey Ban Draws Kurdish Ire
December 18, 2009 by sks
Filed under Iraq, News, Support Kurds, Turkey
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“Turkey must stop its brutal policy against Kurds,” she said. “We Kurdish people from all four countries, we have no border between us. We are all one nation.” Heming Lihony
18 December 2009
Turkey’s ban on a pro-Kurdish political party has angered the Kurdish population of neighbouring Iraq, with demonstrators rallying in two cities and heavy criticism of Ankara from politicians and civil society.
More than 500 people, including Kurds from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, protested in central Suliamaniyah on December 17, blasting the court’s closure of Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party, the Democratic Society Party, DTP and calling for Kurdish solidarity across the region. Read more
Kurdish student arrested without a warrant, in Syria – computer confiscated
Hivraz Mohammed Amin Hassan, a Kurdish university student, was arrested by a patrol of military security officers who raided his house in Ramelan town, in Hassaka province on Monday 14 December 2009, according to the Kurdish organisation for the defence of human rights and general liberties in Syria – DAD. His computer equipment was confiscated, along with other personal belongings. They had no judicial warrant and this raid was illegal. There has been no information about him since the arrest.
DAD has also issued a statement condemning the detention of Hivraz Mohammed Amin Hassan, and the breaching of the fundamental rights that were enshrined in 1973, in the Syrian constitution. It also violates Syria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified on 12 April 1969, which came into force on 23 March 1976, specifically articles 9, 14, 19, 21 and 22. They condemn the arbitrary arrests of |Kurds that are taking place under the State of Emergency.
DAD calls for the legitimisation of human rights organisations and political parties in Syria so that they can speak out about human rights abuses, and bring these matters to the public attention without fear of retribution.
Journalist detained for government critiques; Kurds’ free expression systematically targeted
In a recent wave of arbitrary arrests of dissidents, a journalist who wrote articles on government corruption and defended other journalists harassed by authorities was arrested on 22 November, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The Kurdish community has also been singled out for violations of free expression by Syrian authorities, reports Human Rights Watch. Read more
Amnesty International calls for Syria’s Supreme Security Court to be abolished
Amnesty International called for Syria’s Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) to be abolished as the trial of five members of the Kurdish minority resumed on Tuesday.
“The trial is likely to be a parody of justice as the SSSC has shown itself to be grossly unsatisfactory as a court of law,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “It is neither independent nor impartial and it does not operate in accordance with international standards of fair trial. It should be abolished without further ado.” Read more
Syria: DI member Mr. Mustafa Ismail Arrested
The arbitrary detention of Defend International member Mr. Mustafa Ismail in Syria has caused great concern among our members worldwide.
DI is promoting a joint action against the authorities’ oppression on human rights supporters and calls on the authorities for Mr. Ismail’s immediate and unconditional release.
Name: Mustafa Ismail
Sex: Male
Authorities: Syrian
Category: Fear of torture or ill-treatment / incommunicado detention / prisoners of conscience
The case:
According to information received on 14 December 2009, Mr. Mustafa Ismail was arrested on December 12, 2009. Mr. Ismail is a poet, a prominent blogger, and has contributed articles to numerous Arabic-speaking websites.
It is believed that his arrest was due to his writing. He is also believed to be detained incommunicado which puts him at risk of torture and/or other forms of ill-treatment.
DI Views & Demands:
Defend International (DI) condemns Syrian authorities’ wave of arrests and intimidation against members of civil society, including journalists and bloggers.
DI calls on the Syrian authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Mustafa Ismail. DI highlights that Mr. Ismail is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression. Read more
KHRP Dismayed by Turkey’s Latest Party Closure Case
KHRP is deeply dismayed at today’s Constitutional Court ruling to close the Demokratik Toplum Partisi (Democratic Society Party, DTP)—the first pro-Kurdish party in the Turkish parliament in 14 years.
This decision has imposed on 37 members of the DTP, a five-year ban from politics and may pave the way for a wave of prosecutions against its members following the lifting of their Parliamentary immunity.
Politicians and parties representing the Kurds and Kurdish aspirations have faced systematic persecution in Turkey. Every party that has sought to articulate Kurdish concerns in a peaceful, democratic forum has contended with efforts by the establishment to restrict their activities, threaten their members and ultimately disband the party. This has included, among others, The People’s Labour Party (HEP), the Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖZDEP), Democratic Party (DEP), and pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HADEP). Read more
