Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies – NGO shadow report for the review of the Syrian Arab Republic under the UN convention against torture (CAT)
See the report – click here
Extract:
Introduction
Since March 8th 1963, Syria has been ruled under a state of emergency imposed by a military order upon the basis of the Law of Emergency although the procedures dictated by this law have not been followed.1 This law and in particular its articles 4 and 5 involves restrictions on a wide range of human rights which ought to be respected like freedom of individuals in assembly, residence and movement. It additionally violates the right to privacy and permits seizure of properties . Read more
Kurdish student arrested in Aleppo
Azad Abdul Razak Wali, a university student, was arrested by a security patrol in Aleppo on the afternoon of Sunday 18 April 2010. There was no warrant or other court order produced and he has remained in detention. He is a student at the University of Aleppo – Faculty of Engineering – Information Technology, and lives in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsod in Aleppo.
We condemn and strongly deplore the arrest of university student Azad Abdul Razzaq Wali and express our deep concern about his fate. We demand his immediate release, the freeing of all prisoners of conscience and the abolition of the State of Emergency and martial law.
Kurdish Organization for Defending Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria – DAD
Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights al-Rased
20 April 2010
YASA – NGO shadow report for the review of the Syrian Arab Republic under the UN convention against torture (CAT)
A former Kurdish prisoner in Syria described torture in the prison as follow “they were four men who tortured me. They beat me with a whip, with a woodblock, with their feet and hands. They beat me everywhere and so hard on my head, my ears and eyes, on my back, my legs and everywhere until I reached the point of not feeling any pain… then everything became dark“.
See the report – click here
All reports: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/cats44.htm
SKS report for the review of THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC Under the UN Convention against Torture [CAT]
The following report will be made available to the UN Committee on the Convention against Torture. The review will take place in Geneva on 4 May 2010 to hold Syria accountable for its actions since signing the Convention against Torture, and the committee has invited NGOs to contribute reports about Syria’s activities:
The NGO shadow report for the review of THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC Under the UN Convention against Torture [CAT], submitted by International Support Kurds in Syria Association – SKS [April 2010]
The report is available to download here
Summary:
1) Kurds in Syria suffer torture, inhuman and degrading treatment in detention and in their everyday lives. The military and political security authorities wilfully take advantage of the State of Emergency and martial law to make arbitrary arrests and detentions without trial, in order to oppress and suppress human rights defenders and the Kurdish population. We know that acts of severe pain and suffering are intentionally and frequently inflicted on Kurds in Syria with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. We are certain that such behaviour is encouraged by the Syrian Government.
2) We ask the UN to accept that in this secretive and highly controlled country, many Kurds are afraid to speak out. There are currently people in detention who know what is happening but risk everything if they talk, including abuse of their family members; and there are others in the diaspora who may be able to give evidence if he is assured of his safety.
3) We ask that the Syrian Government is held to account for its behaviour, for its use of the State of Emergency to act in ways that instil such fear in its people, and for its use of law and public policy to ill-treat and degrade the Kurdish community in general. Recognition of this behaviour is the first step and acknowledgement that it is abusive follows. Reparation is the start of a remedy.
18 April 2010
All reports are here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/cats44.htm
Syria: Arbitrary Detention of Leading Human Rights Activist
Defend International (DI) has been informed by reliable sources of the case of Mr. Abdul-Hafiz Abdul Al-Rahman, a leading human rights activist in Syria.
DI believes that he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his peaceful human right activities.
Name: Abdul-Hafiz Abdul Al.Rahman
Sex: Male
Age: 44
Authorities: Syrian
Category: Fear of torture or ill-treatment / incommunicado detention / prisoners of conscience
The case:
According to information received from Syria and United Kingdom, Mr. Abdul-Hafiz Abdul Al-Rahman, leading human rights activist in Syria, was arrested on March 2, 2010 at his home in the city of Aleppo. He was detained by Syrian Military Intelligence in the presence of his family and a colleague. Read more
More arrests in al-Raqqa, Syria
It has been reported that political security forces arrested a large group of Kurdish citizens in al-Raqqa, during in the period between 14th to 17th April after raiding their homes at night and in the early hours of the morning. Some of those who were arrested have been identified as:
• Osman Ahmed
• Farhad Shaheen Kamal
• Masum Shaheen Kamal
• Zakaria Shaheen Kamal
• Mazloum Shaheen Kamal
• Mustafa Hussain Ahmed
• Ali Hussein Ahmed
• Luqman Mustafa Musa
• Ez al-Din Mustafa Hamzo
• Hassan Abdi
• Riad Ibrahim. Read more
Family dies at sea – stateless Kurds hoping to escape the persecution in Syria
A report has been released from DAD, MAF and al-Rased that about two and a half months ago a ship carrying Kurds from Syria sank in the waters around Greece killing a family and others. The family were being smuggled to Europe by sea using fishing boats, but the boat sank killing the mother and father and four children, and the mother was seven months pregnant at the time. The bodies of the parents and one of the girls were found, and kept in Greece. They have not been released to the family yet. The family were ajanib (stateless) Read more
London demonstration 17 April 2010 – Kurds and Arabs stand together with British people
Members of Amnesty International rallied human rights activists in many countries on Saturday 17 April 2010, to mark the 64th anniversary of the Syrian independence with protests about the imprisonment of human rights defenders. In London about 125 people gathered in front of the Syrian Embassy with pictures and pleas for the release of a cross-section of people who are suffering in detention in Syria for their beliefs. The following photos speak for themselves, and show a peaceful demonstration where Kurds and Arabs stood side by side with British people together in a common cause.
Ellis Brooks – the main co-ordinator of this London demonstration and member of Amnesty International – wrote a letter appealing for the release of these people that was signed by some of the people attending the demonstration and taken to the Embassy. No-one answered the door and so the letter was posted through the letterbox, with a request that it be handed to the Ambassador for passing on to the President of Syria.
Briefing to the Committee Against Torture – Amnesty International
1. INTRODUCTION
This briefing is submitted to the Committee against Torture (hereafter the Committee) in connection with its consideration of Syria’s first periodic report on its implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereafter the Convention). It details Amnesty International’s concern about a persistent pattern of torture and other ill?treatment of political detainees while held in often prolonged incommunicado detention for interrogation by Syria’s security and intelligence agencies (notably, Military Intelligence, Political Security and State Security); unfair trials, including the acceptance by courts of “confessions” allegedly obtained under torture or other ill-treatment; beatings and other ill-treatment of inmates by prison guards; and the failure of the authorities to ensure that all allegations of torture and other serious violations of human rights are independently investigated and that those responsible for abuses are brought to justice.
This briefing which covers the period from 2004 to date, describes laws and practices in Syria which lead to or amount to human rights violations and contravene Syria’s obligations under the Convention.
Read the report here
See all reports at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/cats44.htm
The Syrian government accuses the Kurdish parties in Syria of being separatist
DAMASCUS/QAMSHLI, — The Syrian government accuses the Kurdish parties in Syria of being separatist, while the Kurdish parties reject this claim.
[eKurd File photo] The Kurdish movement in Syrian Kurdistan started in the 1950s. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was the first Kurdish party, with the aim of establishing an independent Kurdish state, which would include Kurds from all states where they live. But the Kurdish nationalist movement split up in different factions eventually. Currently there are around 20 unlicensed Kurdish parties in Syria. None of them ask for Kurdish independence and insteadof autonomy, they are increasingly changing their demands to simply Kurdish cultural rights. Read more
