Head of the Syrian Organization for Human Rights (SOHR) Abdel Karim Rihawi told UPI today that human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni "was accused of belonging to a secret organization planning to topple President Bashar Assad's regime."
He said the charge was not directed against other detained rights activists, "a matter that raises our deep concerns."
Rihawi quoted an official source as telling him that the accused will be convicted of the charges filed against them, but will be released later by a special pardon from President Assad.
It was first reported that Bunni, along with nine other signatories to the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, was being charged with "inciting sectarian conflict, undermining the state, disseminating false news, and defamation." Some of the charges could carry a life sentence if he is convicted.