Anwar Al-Bunni, a lawyer, founding member of the Human Rights Association in Syria (HRAS) and President of the Committee for the Defence of Political Prisoners, who is executing a five years prison sentence pronounced on April 24, 2007 by the Damascus Criminal Court for “release of fake news”, as a consequence of an unfair trial, as he did not get the right to talk to his lawyer without restriction, was denounced by a co-detainee for sending letters outside the prison . 

During a body inspection, a draft of the letter that he had produced during his first trial was found on him. In this letter, he criticized the Minister of Social Affairs who originated his arrest and condemnation, as well as the association of support to the prisoners. This letter was considered a defamation offence by the Public Prosecutor, who sued him in front of the Military Court, in application of the Law 376 from the Penal Code. Mr. Al-Bunni incurs a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment.

At the hearing of December 13, 2007, during which the Observatory sent a mission of judicial observation, the defence lawyers insisted on the fact that this letter could not constitute the evidence of an offence, because it had already been presented as a mean of defence in front of the Criminal Court in April 2007. Besides, the General Law on Amnesty, adopted on January 28, 2006, should prevent such a proceeding from being opened. Mr. Al-Bunni’s lawyers consequently asked for his acquittal. The verdict has been postponed until January 24, 2008.

Besides, Mr. Al-Bunni is still victim of pressure and privations in detention: in particular, he is not allowed to receive food, clothes or books, and he is refused access to the prison library.

The Syrian regime began 2008 with its ongoing targeting of the Damascus Declaration members.In the meanwhile, the Syrian authorities led an all scale campaign to disrepute and cast doubts over the patriotic feelings of the detainees and the other activists of the Damascus Declaration. Last year, the courts handed down stiff sentences of up to 12 years to at least six prominent dissidents, including human rights lawyer Anwar Bunni and writer Michel Kilo. They were arrested after signing a declaration criticising the government’s policies in neighbouring Lebanon in 2006.

Haitham Maleh, a prominent human rights lawyer, estimates the country now has more than 3000 political prisoners now, compared to 2000 people in jail for their political views in 2005.

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