Concluding observations of the UN Committee against Torture SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
Committee against Torture
Forty-fourth session
26 April – 14 May 2010
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the convention
ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
1. The Committee against Torture considered the initial report of Syrian Arab Republic (CAT/C/SYR/1) at its 937th and 939th meetings (CAT/C/SR.937 and 939), held on 3 and 4 May 2010, and adopted, at its 951st meeting (CAT/C/SR.951), the following concluding observations.
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of Syria, which, while generally following the Committee’s guidelines for reporting, lacks statistical and practical information on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and relevant domestic legislation. However, the Committee regrets that the report was submitted 5 years late which prevented the Committee from conducting an analysis of the implementation of the Convention in the State party following its ratification in 2004. Read more
Six young Kurdish men arrested in Qamishli, Syria
Kurdish youths were arrested by state security and military security in Qamishli during the months of March and April and are still unaccounted for since they were taken to Damascus. There is no information about the reasons for their detention or the charges against them.
The young men are:,
- Rasho Abbas Ibrahim – born in 1990 – arrested by state security on 28 March 2010
- Shivan Faramz Hussein – born in 1989 – arrested by state security on 2 April 2010
- Bangin Mohammed Amin Antar – arrested by state security on 2 April 2010
- Ageed Innad Khalaf – born in 1994 – arrested by military security on 12 March 2010
- Mohamed Fawaz Khalaf – born in 1991 – arrested by military security on 12 March 2010
- Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahmoud – born in 1992 – arrested by military security 12 March 2010. Read more
One Kurd released after 6 months detention; one Kurd sentenced to 4 years, in Syria
The individual military judge in Qamishli decided on Wednesday 5 April 2010 to release Saud Ibrahim Abdul Kadir born in 1975 in Qamishli. He had been in detention without trial for six months with Political Security in Hassaka, for the crime of “belonging to a banned political organisation” meaning the Democratic Union Party – PYD, which is forbidden under Article 288 of the Penal Code.
It was the second time that Saud had been arrested, as he was previously held in detention in the same Political Security Branch in Hassaka from 16 October 2008 until 16 April 2009.
The Supreme State Security Court in Damascus jailed Hafez Majoul Shendi, a young Kurd from Hassakah province, on 4 May 2010 for four years. He was sentenced under Article 278 of the Penal Code. He has been in detention since he was arrested on 1 June 2008 on the basis of Article 278 of the Penal Code “exposing Syria to hostile acts”. Read more
‘Human rights issues concerning Kurds in Syria’ – 6 May 2010
Report from a joint fact finding mission by the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) and ACCORD/Austrian Red Cross to Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Lebanon, and Erbil and Dohuk, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)
21 January to 8 February 2010
May 2010
This report is the product of a joint fact-finding mission by the Danish Immigration Service (DIS), Documentation and Project Division, and the Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (ACCORD) of the Austrian Red Cross to Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Lebanon and Erbil and Dohuk in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) from 21 January to 8 February 2010.
It is not, and does not purport to be fully exhaustive with regard to the issues covered, nor is it conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. The views stated in this report reflect the sources’ personal opinions and knowledge and do not present an opinion of the Danish Immigration Service or ACCORD/Austrian Red Cross. Read more
Several arbitrary arrests in a number of cities
It has been reported by Kurdish Organization for Defending Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria – DAD, and Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF that the pace of arrests of Kurdish citizens has risen in recent weeks, with numerous arrests in al-Raqqa, Kobani, Damascus and Qamishli, and some of these arrests have been reported by the families of the detainees.:
Abdullah Nazir Mohammed, born in 1985 in Tel-Ter in Hassakah province, who is a third year philosophy student at Damascus University was arrested on 2 May 2010 by one of the security agencies in Damascus. His whereabouts are unknown.
Radwan Rashid Osman, called “Bizarre”, born in 1987 in Tel-Abyad, a student in journalism in Damascus University, was arrested on 7 February 2010. He was taken to the military court after being in detention for more than two months. He will stand trial on 9 May 2010.
Bangin Mohammed Amin Antar, aged 21 was arrested after a security forces raid a week ago. He is still unaccounted for.
Radwan Mohamed Sharif was arrested by security forces more than a month and a half ago in an Internet café in city of Qamishli. He is still unaccounted for.
Many people have been arrested in internet cafes recently, and computers have been confiscated. The owners of these cafés are coming under increasing pressure.
Mustafa Fajar Habash arrested in Syria
It is reported that on 2 April 2010, Political Security in Damascus arrested Mustafa Fajar Habash, born 1967, from the Kobani area. Since his arrest his family have had no information as to his whereabouts, or what is happening to him.
Our Committee condemns arbitrary detentions that are mostly without warrants from the Public Prosecutor, and which lead to people remaining in detention for long periods of time without trial.
We demand that the authorities allow his family to visit him, and that they refer him to the competent judicial authority if he committed an act punishable by law. We demand the release of all political prisoners and the lifting of the State of Emergency in Syria, the abolition of martial law and special courts. We call for a political system that respects everyone’s human rights.
Syrian Committee for Human Rights – MAD, Damascus
4 May 2010
Three more Kurdish students arrested
According to Media Institute of West Kurdistan Society, on 12 February 2010 Abdullah Mohammed Mesko was arrested. He is a law student at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Beirut Arab University, but he was arrested in Syria.
Intelligence security made arrests in al-Raqqa between 27 – 29 April 2010:
- the student Darwish Mohamed Misseh, a student in the Faculty of Education. He was arrested in his student accommodation.
- Ibrahim Mustafa, a student was also arrested in al-Raqqa after his home was raided and his family threatened if they did not surrender him.
These arrests, and those previously reported are evidence that there is a systematic attack on the Kurdish people underway by the Syrian authorities, that has intensified during April 2010. Many people have been detained and subjected to torture during their detention, and this includes those who are wounded.
5 May 2010
Wide campaign of arrests against Kurds in the Kobani area, following the shootings at al-Raqqa.
People living in Kobani and the surrounding villages have seen an unprecedented escalation of arrests and raids during the past three months. Many have been arrested and are still unaccounted for, having not been charges with any offences to date.
Two months ago, nine people were arrested. It is not clear why these arrests have taken place, or where the detainees are being held:
- Luqman Mustafa Nassan
- Khalil Osman Shekho
- Jarah Dahowd Shekho
- Saleh Mohammed Busan
- Muhammad Ali Haj Afdo
- Adel Khalil Karao
- Ali Mostafa
- Darwish Abdul Kader
- Anwar Musteh, born 1974
On 5 March 2010, the political security in Kobani arrested Bosan Bosan Abdul Kader and Wahid Abdul Yusef for a few hours. They were then released, but were re-arrested a few hours later and transferred to Aleppo. Read more
Three people arrested and four teenagers from the city of al-Raqqa have been released.
Law enforcement personnel arrested three people after raiding homes in the middle of the night and early morning, in al-Raqqa, between 26 – 28 April 2010, adding to the numbers of Kurds already arrested, and to the intimidation of families, of children who watch their parents being being driven to detention facilities and of women.
The three arrested were:
- Muhammad Ali Koresh
- Yasser Musa
- Abdel-Qader Ali Saaed
Four teenagers who were arbitrarily arrested in relation to the Newroz celebration, were released on 30 April:
- Masum Mohammad Os’dik
- Kawa Othman Abdullah
- Khalil Mahmoud Khalil – he had been shot
- Ali Mohamed Isa – he had been shot 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
