The Syria Monitor

Kamal Labwani Physically Abused (11/7)

The Syrian Human Rights Observatory reported in a press release that political prisoner Kamal Labwani was assaulted in the Adra prison where he is detained. (Arabic. Elaph, 11/4/06).

The statement said that Labwani was beaten and verbally abused by a criminal inmate at the behest of the security services. It added that Labwani filed a complaint which was ignored by the prison authorities.

Labwani's family confirmed the assault took place and held the prison authorities responsible. (Arabic. Levant News, 11/3/06). The family also reiterated its request to separate political prisoners from criminals. The prison authorities had placed Labwani in the violent crimes ward, and had placed Anwar Bunni in the robberies ward, while Michel Kilo and the recently re-arrested Mahmoud Issa are placed in the prostitution ward. This practice of placing political prisoners with criminals has been common. It was done, for instance, to Fateh Jamous who was also beaten by inmate thugs.

Human rights sources confirm that the authorities instruct criminals to attack political prisoners in order to pressure them and crush their spirits. (Arabic. TSDP, 11/3/06). It is often dubbed "torture by proxy." It is a practice also used outside prison, where thugs are sent out to beat up dissidents at rallies. 

Bunni, Issa, Kilo and Labwani had launched a week-long hunger strike, which ended on 11/4, to protest rights violations in Syria, including continued political imprisonment, torture of detainees, subversion of the judiciary, and stifling of freedom of speech and opinion. (Arabic. Elaph, 11/4/06). The detainees said the assault on Labwani and the reversal of the judicial order to release Kilo cause them to worry about their situation and lives in prison. Yet they still called for unifying efforts to maintain pressure on the regime.

Labwani, who is being charged of contacting a foreign state in order to incite aggression against Syria, also penned a letter from prison defending himself and attacking authoritarian rule in Syria and calling for democratic change. (Arabic. ME Transparent, 11/1/06).

In another act of defiance, the detainees hailed the sentencing of Saddam Hussein as a precedent for holding dictators accountable in the Arab world, despite expressing reservation over the death penalty. (Arabic. Al-Mustaqbal, 11/7/06). Anwar Bunni told AKI that the sentencing marks the first time in the Arab world that a dictator was held accountable by the people for his crimes. He added, "it would not be the last." (Arabic. AKI, 11/7/06). He also told Reuters that this presented "the last chance for all to respect human rights before it was too late," in a direct jab against the Syrian regime. Similarly, Labwani was quoted as saying "these rulings confirm the nearness of the day when all [dictators] will be tried, no matter their rank, for the crimes they committed against their people."

An international tribunal is currently being set up to try suspects in the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and other Lebanese politicians and journalists. The reports of the UN investigation have implicated the Syrian regime in the killings.

The Kilo Fiasco (11/6)

On October 19, reports came out that Beirut-Damascus Declaration (BDD) signatory, Michel Kilo, would be released on bail, leaving Anwar al-Bunni and Ali Shehabi as the last two signatories still in detention. (Arabic. AKI, 10/19/06). Bunni is reportedly facing charges of contacting enemy sides and belonging to an organization of an international character without government permission, as well as disseminating false news. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/9/06).

However, it quickly became apparent that Kilo was not going to be released. His family confirmed that despite the judge's signature on the release request and the payment of the bail, Kilo remained in jail. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/20/06). Rumors began circulating that the Syrian authorities would not allow Kilo's release. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/21/06). It then came out that there was clear political interference in the judicial order. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/21/06). One report claimed that, based on information from the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, "a prominent figure from the first rank of the Syrian regime" flagrantly interfered in order to prevent Kilo's release. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/22/06).

It is worth noting that Kilo's lawsuit against a regime-hired pen (Arabic. Elaph, 8/26/06), who accused him of receiving money and operational directions from an anti-Syrian Lebanese Minister to support terrorist acts in Syria (Arabic. AKI, 7/25/06), was also rejected after alleged interference from the office of Maher Assad, the President's brother, who is close to the journalist in question. (Arabic. Levant News, 9/29/06).

Political interference soon became manifest when additional, more serious charges, including "exposing Syria to the danger of hostile acts," were brought against Kilo and three recently-released (Arabic. Levant News, 9/25/06) BDD signatories, Mahmoud Issa, Khalil Hussein, and Suleiman al-Shammar.  (Arabic. Elaph, 10/22/06). An order went out to rearrest them and detain them in the Adra prison.

The following day, the security forces raided Mahmoud Issa's house and re-arrested him. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/23/06).

In response, Kilo, Bunni, and Kamal Labwani launched a protest hunger strike which ended on 11/4. (AFP, 10/30/06). Meanwhile, Syrian and international human rights organizations strongly attacked the Syrian judiciary over the Kilo fiasco calling it "a judicial scandal." (Arabic. AKI, 10/25/06). The Kilo affair was covered by Reporters Sans Frontieres. (French. 11/2/06).

A German-based opposition group, The Party of Modernity and Democracy for Syria, declared it was holding a sit-in and a hunger strike of its own in solidarity with the Syrian detainees. (Arabic. AKI, 10/31/06). The hunger strike ended yesterday.

In related news, another recently-arrested BDD signatory, Ali Shehabi, was also denied release. (Arabic. Elaph, 10/22/06).

News Round-Up (9/14-19)

9/14 - The secretariat general of the National Salvation Front (NSF) held its second meeting in Brussels (9/13-15), where it decided to accept five new members representing various Kurdish movements. (Arabic. AKI, 9/14/06). According to information obtained by AKI, it was decided to expand the framework of the Front internally in Syria and externally on the road towards establishing a democratic state in Syria. Also, the Front reportedly decided on a media strategy and to launch a private TV station for the Syrian opposition. (See 9/19 below for more).

9/15 - Abdel Halim Khaddam spoke to UPI at the NSF conference in Brussels. (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 9/15/06). The lengthy interview covered a range of issues. Khaddam said that "the Front's activity had so far been focused outside Syria, while maintaining contacts with the [Syrian] interior. However, in the upcoming stage it will move inside [Syria] in order to accelerate the process of change." Khaddam refused to give details on the methods that the NSF will use to communicate with the Syrian interior citing "security reasons."  He only said that "the Front is moving to activate communication inside [Syria] and to mobilize public opinion in Syria." Khaddam denied being contacted by any Arab state in the aftermath of Bashar Assad's speech in which he attacked Arab states that criticized Hezbollah for provoking the recent war with Israel. He added that Assad "has crossed the point of no return and has made his choice, pulling himself out of the Arab circle and placing himself in the Iranian circle." As for Hezbollah's war, Khaddam said that Bashar Assad "follows his father's advice and wants to bleed Israel through Hezbollah."

9/18 - The National Organization for Human Rights in Syria (NOHR) reported that the Syrian authorities arrested Muhammad Darwish, an activist in the Committees for the Revival of Civil Society. (Arabic. Elaph, 9/18/06). The NOHR press release said that Darwish had been called in for questioning by Military Intelligence in Damascus and had not been let go since. NOHR added that there was no warrant for the arrest and thus the detention is illegal, and that Darwish should either be charged and referred to court or released. The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) later reported that Darwish was released a couple of days later. (Arabic. SHRC, 9/29/06).

9/19 - Nasr Hassan, member of the NSF's secretariat general, wrote that the Front adopted at the Brussels meeting a basic document (Arabic) detailing its views on civic rights for Syrian citizens. (Arabic. "Free Syria," 9/19/06). The document lays out the various freedoms and rights that the Front adopts, and expresses its commitment to basic human rights as laid out in universal declarations and international treaties.

9/19 - Veteran Kurdish activist and member of the NSF's secretariat general, Salah Badreddine, told UPI at the Brussels conference that after deciding to expand its secretariat general, the NSF has agreed to coordinate with the Damascus Declaration groups and to open channels of dialogue with tribal leaders inside Syria at a later stage. (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 9/19/06). Badreddine said that he would be coordinating with Khaddam and Bayanouni on joint peaceful activism inside Syria between the Kurdish groups that he represents and groups that support the NSF. While denying that any Arab state supported the conference, Badreddine said that NSF delegates would soon be visiting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and maybe Iraq in the future, and would also hold meetings with Lebanese democratic forces, such as the Future Movement or the March 14 groups. On the international scene, Badreddine said that the US would head the list along with Britain and France. He added that all the US officials he's met, Republicans and Democrats, including State Department officials and members of Congress, agree that the Syrian regime is dictatorial and an exporter of terrorism and must be changed, as he put it.

9/19 - Elaph reported that the security services had arrested journalist Muhannad Abdel Rahman. (Arabic. 9/19/06). According to Elaph, Abdel Rahman wrote for the Kuwaiti al-Siyassah, which follows an anti-Assad editorial line. Lately, the report added, he began publishing interviews with Syrian dissidents in The Syrian Democratic Forum, the publication of The Syrian Democratic Assembly, a European-based group.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also issued a press release on Abdel Rahman's arrest. (IFEX, 9/22/06). The report noted that "Abdulrahman, 25, was picked up by security services in Damascus on his return from the village of Qamishly, in Syrian Kurdistan, where he had interviewed a Kurdish political leader. His family has had no news of him since his arrest." RSF added that Abdel Rahman wrote for Rezgar, an online secular Leftist news and opinion site. His work included numerous interviews and profiles of Syrian political figures.

9/19 - Elaph reported that detained dissident writer and professor Mahmoud Sarem (71) has been released. (Arabic. 9/19/06). Another report by the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) confirmed that Sarem was released on bail. (Arabic. SHRC, 9/29/06). Sarem was arrested in September 2005 and faced charges of weakening the morale of the nation and nationalist sentiment, and conducting acts aimed at armed rebellion. Sarem had described the ruling regime as fascist.

News Round-Up (8/8-16)

[Ed.'s Note: Due to the recent crisis in Lebanon, The Syria Monitor took a temporary back seat. Posting will now resume starting with quick round-ups from the last few weeks. Regular posting will then follow.]

8/9 - Exiled dissident and former reformist MP Ma'moun Homsi addressed the Lebanese people in a statement expressing solidarity with them. (Arabic. "Free Syria," 8/9/06). He said "the only thing more brutal than the war being waged against Lebanon is the dictatorial, authoritarian family regime in Syria," which is "seeking to take advantage of the carnage in Lebanon to prolong its rule after its behavior and abuse of its people and neighbors have been exposed to the world." He accused the regime of trying to sow divisions and civil strife in Lebanon and said that "the world's turning a blind eye to this regime is a danger to all because [the regime] spreads hatred and systematically supports terrorism according to its interests and in order to stay in power."

8/10 - The Damascus Declaration (DD) groups have formed a national council for the Syrian opposition. (Arabic. Elaph, 8/10/06). Sources inside the DD told Elaph that the DD groups have agreed on an organizational structure and have formed the national council from which emerged follow-up and coordination committees. Hasan Abdel Azim told Elaph that the committees have met and have estabished offices. He added that detained dissident Aref Dalilah was named an honorary member of the follow-up committee.

8/11 - The Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria reported in a press release that on 8/11, security agents and unknown armed men surrounded the house of the Committees' spokesman, lawyer Aktham Naisse where a meeting was supposed to be held between various Arab and Kurdish parties and groups. (Arabic. SHRC, 8/11/06). The attendants were searched individually and their documents seized. Their names were then taken down and they were removed by force. Naisse remained in his house, under siege.

The Committees had declared that on 8/7, Naisse and his wife were called in for questioning at the state security branch in Lattakia as a result of an informant's report. (Arabic. SHRC, 8/8/06). The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) noted that it has recorded the existence of hundreds of thousands of informants who are either rewarded or coerced and blackmailed into writing reports about their families, friends and colleagues.

8/12 - Elaph reported that the Syrian authorities have put a new list of activists under travel bans. (Arabic. 8/12/06). The report said it found out that among of the banned were human rights lawyer Khalil Maatouq, lawyer Mahmoud Mer'i of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, who was recently released after being detained for signing the Beirut-Damascus Declaration. The Syrian authorities had recently expanded the list of travel bans to include such activists as Riad Seif, former Damascus Spring detainee Ali Khalife, Suheir Atassi, Fawwaz Tello, and Samar Labwani, wife of political prisoner Kamal Labwani.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee had also reported on 8/9 that activist Ussama Naisse was also put under a travel ban, and various other liberal activists were being summoned for interrogation. (Arabic. SHRC, 8/9/06).

8/14 - The trial of writer and dissident Ali Abdallah and his son was postponed.  (Arabic. Elaph, 8/14/06). Their lawyers presented a plea for their release but the judge turned it down. The Abdallahs denied all the charges against them. Ali is accused of spreading false news, undermining the state, and defaming the President, while his son Muhammad is charged with disseminating false news, defaming the chief judge of the State Security Court, and starting riots.

8/15 - The military tribunal in Homs -- an extraordinary tribunal -- sentenced Syrian writer and activist Habib Saleh to the maximum sentence of three years in prison for "disseminating false news." (Arabic. AKI, 8/16/06). Saleh is a former Damascus Spring detainee who was jailed for three years on 9/12/01, when Bashar Assad cracked down on dissidents and activists soon after assuming power. (Arabic. Levant News, 8/15/06). Saleh was released on 9/9/04 and was again arrested by military intelligence on 5/30/05 and charged with spreading false and exaggerated news. He had been publishing scathing articles on the web, attacking the Syrian president and his family and some of the symbols of the regime. The articles were in the form of open letters addressed to the Baath Party Congress, which took place in June 2005 and failed to introduce any reforms.

8/15 - The head of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, said in a talk to Radio Sawa that the war in Lebanon has temporarily frozen activities against the regime, but that they would soon resume. (Arabic. Levant News, 8/15/06). He added that the Syrian regime was isolating itself more and more and that the Lebanese have realized that the regime's role in the war was to employ its "cards" and to manage a proxy war outside its own borders, at the expense of the Lebanese people. Bayanouni noted that the war in Lebanon had exposed the Syrian regime and increased its isolation with Arab and Western governments. He said that there was consensus among the Syrian opposition groups that the alternative to the regime would be democratic, pluralistic, and diverse, adding that the National Salvation Front is preparing a transitional government in consultation with all other groups.

8/16 - Activist Ali Said Shehabi, who was formerly detained between 1982 and 1991 for his involvement in the Communist Labor party at the time, was summoned on 8/10 for interrogation at the state security branch and never returned home. His wife inquired about him at the security branch and was told that he was detained there, but did not allow her to see him and was not told why he was being detained. (Arabic. "Free Syria," 8/16/06).

Assault, Trials, and Travel Bans Round-Up (8/11)

[Editor's note: Due to the latest crisis in Lebanon and Israel, posting on The Syria Monitor has taken a temporary back seat. Regular posting will resume as soon as possible. Sorry for the inconvenience and the long absence. In the meantime, here is a quick round-up of some recent developments. For commentary on the Lebanon crisis, please visit Across the Bay.]

7/16 - A couple of regime thugs assaulted dissident Riad Seif, a few feet away from the state security branch where he was called in for review on Sunday, July 16. After the session was over, the two thugs jumped him and brutally beat him. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. (Arabic. SHRC, 7/20/06).

The statement by Muhannad Hussni of the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) noted that a week before the assault, Seif had published an article on ME Transparent discussing the cell phone contracts in Syria (a monopoly controlled by Bashar Assad's cousin). It was the same topic that had landed him a 5-year prison sentence.

7/27 -  A judge ordered the continued detention of Ali Abdallah and his son Muhammad, and delayed his trial on account of him not carrying proper identification papers. The Abdallahs are being held for disseminating news abroad that financially harm the state and for defaming the head of state and a judge. (Arabic. Levant News, 7/27/06).

Meanwhile, a session was held in the trial of dissident Kamal Labwani, where his lawyer requested the two televised interviews be played in court. Labwani is accused of inciting a foreign state to attack Syria. The charge is based on his statements on al-Hurra and al-Mustaqilla channels.

Another session was held in the trial of activist Fateh Jamous, who is charged with undermining the state abroad. Jamous denied the charges, saying he does not wish to undermine the state or its unity, and is willing to defend it at all cost against any aggression, but a difference should be made between the state and the authorities. Jamous is also being charged based on his TV appearance while in Britain this past March. He maintains that he rejects foreign intervention, stressing that democratic change is essential, but must take place openly, peacefully, and gradually.

7/28 - The Syrian authorities have banned lawyer Muhannad Hussni, president of the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC), from traveling to participate in an NGO workshop in Amman on July 27. (Arabic. SHRC, 7/28/06). The ban was ordered by the state security apparatus.

Similarly, lawyer Ahmad Manjouna was forbidden from leaving the country on July 27 and told that he's been on a travel ban since July 4. In the past, Manjouna had been banned from traveling for ten years.

Round-Up on the BDD Detainees (8/11)

[Editor's note: Due to the latest crisis in Lebanon and Israel, posting on The Syria Monitor has taken a temporary back seat. Regular posting will resume as soon as possible. Sorry for the inconvenience and the long absence. In the meantime, here is a quick round-up of some recent developments. For commentary on the Lebanon crisis, please visit Across the Bay.]

7/16 - A Judge has ordered the release of four of the Beirut-Damascus Declaration (BDD) detainees: Mahmoud Mer'i, Ghaleb Amer, Safwan Tayfour, and Nidal Darwish, after posting bail (Arabic. Elaph, 7/16/06). According to Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights (NOHR), upon further interrogation, they claimed to have signed on to a different draft declaration than the one that was ultimately released as the BDD, and reportedly adding that they rejected the content of the final version. As for the charges of "inciting sectarian strife," Qurabi said that the four detainees said that they were committed to the unity of Syria and the rule of the Syrian constitution, rejecting foreign interference in Syrian affairs.

7/17 - The four released BDD detainees deny a statement that was circulated -- apparently by the security forces (Arabic. Elaph, 7/14/06) -- which claimed that the four released detainees were going to sue fellow detained activists Michel Kilo and Anwar Bunni for allegedly involving them in signing the BDD (Arabic. Elaph, 7/17/06). They did confirm their maltreatment in prison.

Ammar Qurabi of the NOHR told Elaph that the release was not because of a deal with the security forces, as the detainees will still be facing trial. The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) issued a statement calling on the authorities to stop pressuring and blackmailing detainees to get them to change their positions, and asked for the release of all the BDD detainees and all prisoners of opinion and conscience. (Arabic. SHRC, 7/16/06).

7/19 - The four detainees publish an open letter explaining their release and dispelling all rumors about their alleged deals with the security services and denying that they withdrew their signature from the BDD. They also stressed their commitment to freedom of expression and opinion and called for the release of their fellow detainees. They did not address or validate Ammar Qurabi's claim (see above) about them signing a different version of the BDD. (Arabic. ME Transparent, 7/19/06).

Travel Ban List Expands (7/8)

Rights sources told Elaph that the Syrian regime has expanded the list of activists banned from travel. (Arabic. 7/8/06). The list includes former refomist MP and Damascus Spring activist Riad Seif, activist Suheir Atassi, recently-released Damascus Spring activists Walid al-Bunni and Fawaz Tello, as well as Samar Labwani, the wife of jailed activist Kamal Labwani.

Another Damascus Spring activist, former reformist MP Ma'moun Homsi, recently left Syria and is now campaigning for more pressure on the Syrian regime and for the release of political prisoners.

The Syrian Organization for Human Rights condemned the use of travel bans as a preemptive and punitive measure against activists.

Meanwhile, the security services arrested a Kurdish woman, Nowbahar Mustapha, at the Lebanese-Syrian border. No reason for her arrest was given. The security services also arrested Kurdish activist Fidan Abdel Rahman from the northern region of Efrin. Sources believe the arrest may have come as a result of her membership and activity in the Democratic Union Party.

Security Services Raid Dissident's Office, Break Up Opposition Meeting (6/30)

The Syrian security services raided the office of lawyer Hassan Abdel Azim, spokesperson for the National Democratic Gathering, and broke up a meeting of one of the committees of the Damascus Declaration that was being held there. (Arabic. Levant News, 6/29/06). This comes after the National Council of the Damascus Declaration held a large meeting in the house of dissident Riad Seif.

According to information received by Levant News, a state security patrol raided Abdel Azim's office on June 29 and confiscated documents related to the meeting and to the work of the Damascus Declaration. The state security services also ordered George Sabra, a member of the secretariat of the Syrian People's Party, to report to its headquarters immediately.

The report added that the Syrian regime had stepped up its campaign against activists and their meetings, and had banned all forums and gatherings, even those of a cultural nature. Abdel Azim himself is awaiting trial for charges of "possessing and distributing unlicensed publications," in reference to "the Democratic Stand," a publication that the National Democratic Gathering had been issuing for years. He is due to appear before a military court on July 11. (Arabic. Elaph, 6/29/06).

Abdel Azim also said that  the raiding of his office was "part of the ongoing escalation against the national opposition in Syria." (Arabic. Elaph, 6/30/06). He added that the security services broke into his office without any warrant, using as pretext the meeting of a limited number of members of the follow-up and coordination committee of the Damascus Declaration; a total of five people." He added, "it's a new way to violate the sanctity of homes and private offices, insult the dignity of citizens, restrict basic freedoms, and ignore human rights. It's a total confiscation of the freedom of the national democratic opposition, in order to paralyze its ability to practice its role and activity even at the most minium level.  The regime and its apparatuses insist on the method of tyranny, repression, and negation of the other, paying no mind to constitutional texts and international charters."

The Elaph report notes that one of the regime-run official newspapers had launched an assault on the opposition accusing it of treason and of contributing one way or the other to the international pressures on Syria, especially from the US.

Intimidation Trials and Arrests of Syrian Activists (6/22)

Detained writer Ali Abdallah and his son Muhammad were referred to a military court on Tuesday where they face charges of slandering officials of the state. (UPI, 6/20/06)

Middle East Transparent points out that the Abdallahs are still facing charges before a regular court as well, despite their recent referral to a military court. (Arabic. 6/20/06).

Meanwhile, the military court in Homs held a hearing Tuesday in the trial of activist Hassan Zeino who is accused of distributing banned publications. Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights (NOHR) said in a statement that the court was supposed to give the verdict, but the judge decided at the last minute to check with the military judicial authorities in Damascus whether the National Democratic Gathering (NDG) was not banned which would make its leaflets legal.  

The Gathering includes five unlicensed parties. Zeino was arrested at a bus station in Homs for the possession of unlicensed leaflets and publications in reference to the "Democratic Stand," a publication of the NDG.

In the meantime, the regime's crackdown and campaign of arrests continues. Elaph reported the arrest of Kurdish activist Abdo Khalaf Wello in his hometown. (Arabic. 6/21/06). According to the report, a patrol of the political security apparatus raided Wello's home Monday night and arrested him. Wello is a leading member of the Kurdish Democratic Party. He is 65 and suffers from diabetes.

Regime Crackdown Continues (6/13)

The crackdown against dissidents in Syria continues. Writer Muhammad Ghanem, who was arrested in March, was sentenced by a military court to a year in prison, commuted to six months. Ghanem faced charges of defaming the president of the republic, denigrating the State, and inciting sectarian strife (Arabic. SHRC, 6/8/06).

Ghanem was taken from his house in March by security agents. He was an outspoken advocate of Kurdish rights and criticized the regime's policies in his writings, especially on the "Souriyyoun" site to which he contributed.

Meanwhile, the trial of another writer, Mahmoud Sarem (71), began last week at the State Security Court (Arabic. Levant News, 6/9/06). Sarem was arrested in September 2005 and faced charges of weakening the morale of the nation and nationalist sentiment, and conducting acts aimed at armed rebellion. Sarem had described the ruling regime as fascist. 

Sarem remained defiant at his trial session, calling for a new constitution and for holding officials accountable for their corruption. He has declared an open hunger strike, despite his failing health, and his trial was postponed to the end of August.

The regime had also arrested two more people two weeks ago. Human rights activist Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights, said in a statement that Communist activist Yasser Melhem was seized from his office and poet Omar Idilbi was taken from his home and were both transferred to a detention center in Damascus (UPI, 5/30/06).

"The new arrests come within the framework of tightening the noose on human rights and public freedom activists," Qurabi said.

Qurabi also said in another statement that writer Lou'ay Husein was barred from traveling to Lebanon where he was to take part in a talk show on al-Hurra TV. He was returned to Damascus from the Lebanese-Syrian border (UPI, 6/7/06).

Meanwhile, the third annual report by the Committee for Human Rights in Syria detailed the abuses of the Syrian legal system (Arabic. Elaph, 6/12/06). It said that physical and psychological torutre was the still the primary method of the security services. The report cited recent trials, such as the sentencing of activist Riad Drar to 5 years and Abdel Sattar Qattan to 12 years, as examples of unjust trials.

Similarly, human rights sources have said that the charges thrown at  the Beirut- Damascus Declaration detainees are false and legally baseless (Arabic. Ahrar Syria, 6/11/06). Furthermore, the authorities still refuse to release them despite repeated calls and petitions.

The detainees have postponed their hunger strike planned for June 10 (Arabic. Elaph, 6/11/06). Akram al-Bunni, brother of detained human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni, told IRIN news that Anwar had stopped his hunger strike which lasted for more than three weeks (IRIN, 6/6/06). Anwar al-Bunni's wife and mother were forbidden by the prison's administrators from visiting him on Saturday.