The State Security Court on has acquitted the leading human rights activist of accusations of anti-government activity, dropping all charges against him.

The State Security Court on Sunday said Aktham Naisse, chairman of the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria, was exonerated of all charges.

Syria's official news agency, SANA, said Naisse was acquitted because his case lacked "legal evidence", adding that some of the charges were dropped under a 2004 presidential amnesty.

Naisse was arrested in April 2004 on charges of spreading false information, forming an underground group, having links to international human rights organisations and other charges related to opposing the ruling Baath party.

He was released from prison four months later on $200 bail.

Court slammed

Naisse could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer, Anwar al-Bunni, said the State Security Court "was unconstitutional, illegal and unjust", despite Sunday's acquittal.

"(Four) months in prison, who can compensate for that?" he asked.

SANA said Sunday's hearing was attended by Naisse's lawyers and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in Damascus.

Decisions by the State Security Court, which was created under Syria's 1963 emergency laws and where cases are often heard by military judges, cannot be appealed.

Verdict hailed

Ammar Qurabi, spokesman for the Arab Human Rights Organisation, called the verdict "excellent" and expressed hope that other political prisoners would be released soon.

 The charges against Aktham Naisse  are believed to stem from his human rights activities. In March 2004 he organised a rare protest outside Syria's parliament, which security agents quickly broke up. He and other activists were detained for a few hours and released.

Separately, the court on Sunday sentenced three Kurds to prison terms ranging from 30 to 36 months for "belonging to a banned political party".

The nineth " Ludovic-Trarieux " was awarded on April 23^rd 2004 to Aktham Naisse and  was presented to the prize winner, in Brussels on October 8^th 2004.

 The IDHAE welcomes the decision of the Syrian Supreme State Security Court (SSSC)  to drop charges against Syrian human rights defender Aktham Naisse.

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.