Aktham
Naisse was trialed on Sunday 24 April 2005 before the Supreme State Security
Court with "opposing the
objectives of the revolution" and "disseminating false information
aiming at weakening the State" - a charge that risks a prison sentence of
15 years.
Some
200 Syrians have staged a protest outside the Supreme State Security Court in
Damascus, coinciding with the resumption of the trial of a prominent
human-rights campaigner.
The
area was sealed off by about 50 riot police as demonstrators - including many
Kurds - carried posters of the defendants and banners denouncing the emergency
law in force in Syria since the Baath party took power in 1963.
But
his defence lawyer, Anwar al-Bunni, a Syrian rights lawyer and activist, speaking to Aljazeera after
the judge adjourned the trial until 26 June, said "This trial is a
farce. It demonstrates clearly that the judiciary is under government control
and that Naisse is facing a political trial". "We want true
democratic representation, an independent judiciary and a free press. Is that
too much to ask?"
He
added "And what is so sad is that he is on trial for the simplest of
demands. We want true democratic representation, an independent judiciary and a
free press. Is that too much to ask?"
Anwar
al-Bunni said that many international organisations have shown a great deal of
interest in the case.
The
nineth " Ludovic-Trarieux " Prize, created in 1984, and awarded every
year jointly by the HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTES OF THE BAR of BORDEAUX, of BRUSSELS
and of PARIS and the EUROPEAN BAR HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE (IDHAE) , to Aktham
Naisse was presented to the prize winner, in Brussels on October 8th.
EUROPEAN BAR HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE CALLS UPON THE SYRIAN AUTHORITIES:
-
to ensure that Aktham Naisse be brought before a civil, competent and
impartial tribunal, and that his procedural rights be guaranteed at all times,
including his right to access to counsel;
-
to recognise the CDF and other human rights and civil society
organisations;
-
to put an end to harassment, intimidation, threats, and deliberate
attacks on human rights defenders,
-
and to respect its human rights commitments according to international
standards, particularly now that the EU is expected soon to sign an Association
Agreement with Syria
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
EMHRN:
Marit Floe Joergensen, Information Officer
Tel:
+45-32 69 89 12 / Fax: +45-32 95 65 54
E-mail:
info@euromedrights.net
FIDH:
Gael Grilhot, press officer
tel: +33 1 43 55 25 18
email: ggrilhot@fidh.org
The Campaign "Free Aktham Naisse !"
Aktham Naisse, a lawyer and the president of the Committees for the Defence
of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), was arrested Tuesday April 13, 2004 in Latakia,
and has been detained by the military security services since then.
According to EMHRN
sources, Mr.
Naisse was detained in an individual cell in the criminal department of the Saidnaya prison,
well-known for the very harsh conditions of detention imposed on political
prisoners, where he is isolated in an individual cell, in the section for
ordinary criminals.
The CDF has lately
been very active in defending human rights in Syria. From among their
activities can be mentioned: a manifestation in front of the Syrian Parliament
to put an end to the state of emergency in Syria (8 March), an on-line petition
(signed by more than 7000 persons) calling for reforms and an end of the
exceptional laws, the publication of the CDF annual report for 2003, a
condemnation against the Syrian security forces’ use of torture which has lead
to the death of Kurdish Syrian citizens (11 April).
Aktham Naisse is accused of
undermining the objectives of the Revolution. He will be
trialed in the State Security Court, under Syrian emergency laws. He is accused
of “undermining the objectives of the Revolution: Arab unity, liberty and
socialism”, as well as spreading false information about Syria. He risks up to
15 years imprisonment.
Mr. Naisse and CDF have been very
active in defending Human Rights in Syria and have recently been increasinly
harassed by the Syrian authorities. Latest on 11 February he was detained and
interogated by the military secret service. During the interogation Mr. Naisse
was harassed and threatened not to be allowed to travel outside Syria.
On 26 July, human rights defender and prisoner of conscience from 1991 to 1998, Aktham Naisse, was tried before the SSSC on charges relating to his work in defence of human rights. He previously appeared before the SSSC on 22 April. Mr. Naisse was not allowed to meet privately with his lawyers.
Mr. Naisse has been charged with "opposing the objectives of the
revolution", "disseminating false information aiming at weakening the
State" and "affiliating with international organisations". However,
as a consequence of an amnesty granted by the Syrian President on
July 15, 2004, the court dropped the later charge, which is
punishable with up to three years imprisonment. If convicted on all
remaining counts, Mr. Naisse risks up to 15 years of forced labour.
The Supreme State
Security Court does not respect all the guarantees of a fair trial.
Particularly worrying in this regard, is that usual criminal
procedures relative to a fair trial are not applicable before this
Court (according to decree 47 passed in 1968). In addition, the SSSC
does not fall under the authority of the higher judiciary but under
the National Security Office of the Baath Party. Moreover, one
military judge is among the panel of three judges. The decisions of
the SSSC cannot be appealed.
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