Sentences of four to six years handed down to Kurdish political detainees in Syria

According to the Kurdish organisation for the defence of human rights and general liberties in Syria – DAD and the Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD, the infamous Supreme State Security Court in Damascus handed down judgements in Case No. 182/2009 on Tuesday 29 December 2009 and sentenced the political detainees to prison terms ranging between four and six years:

• Monther Abdulfattah Resho, aged 16 at the time of his arrest in 2008, and
• Khalil Feedee Dahli
  • were sentenced to four years each.
• Ciwan Mohammed Ahmed,
• Hassan Khalil Qudo, and
• Manan Ahmed Sido
  • were sentenced to six years each.

The sentences are in accordance with Article 267 for membership of Democratic Union Party – PYD, and Article 302 of the Syrian Penal Code.

Kurdish organisation for the defence of human rights and general liberties in Syria – DAD and the Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD condemn this unjust sentencing of Kurdish citizens by the Syrian Supreme State Security Court following a trial that was held in a court that is unconstitutional, that lacks independence and impartiality, and that does not meet the standards and criteria of an international fair trial.  We call for the abolition of the Supreme State Security Court, the State of Emergency, and martial law and demand judicial reform to end political detention.  We demand the right to hold an opinion, and to express that political opinion without fear of being detained solely for political purposes, and for the release of all political detainees.

Previous report: http://supportkurds.org/news/trial-of-kurdish-youths-adjourned-to-29-december-2009

Kurdish organisation for the defence of human rights and general liberties in Syria – DAD

Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD.

31 December 2009