Articles for Syria

22-year-old Mr Al Hamada, is a Syrian student normally attending business school. We fear that he might have been arrested as a hostage by the Syrian authorities as the latter search for relatives of Mr Al Hamada who are actively involved in the growing Syrian opposition movement.

Alkarama applauds the UN Human Rights Council for passing resolution S-16/1, at its special session on Syria on 29 April 2011, formally condemning the Syrian government for its use of force against peaceful pro-democracy protestors.

Alkarama has submitted to the UN Human Rights Special Procedures the names of 359 individuals arrested following their alleged participation in protests in Syria.

Alkarama is deeply concerned by the Syria security forces' continued use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Syria, and is informed that the Syrian army has setup a blockade around the port city of Banias, northwest of Syria. The blockade follows an intensification by the Syrian forces long disturbance that has left many dead throughout Syria.

On Sunday night 10 April 2011, Banias was cordoned off by the military and as tanks fanned out, access to medical services was blocked and communications interrupted.

George Sabra, a leading member of the Syrian Democractic People's Party, was arrested by Syrian security forces at 10.30am on 10 April 2011, in Quatana and has since disappeared. His party is linked to the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change, a Syrian opposition movement calling for pro-democratic reforms in Syria.

Since anti-government protests began in March 2011, many Syrian human rights defenders and political activists have been arrested. George Sabra was also previously arrested on 24 March 2008.

In this context, it should be noted that human rights defenders and lawyers have been particularly targeted during the crackdown on civilians participating in the rising opposition movement. Indeed, the following individuals have been detained solely as a result of their exercise of their right to freedom of expression:

Alkarama is deeply concerned by the Syria security forces' continued use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Syria. Alkarama has confirmed 70 more deaths as a result lethal force used by the Syrian authorities against protesters. This total comes on the back of the case of 58 dead, which Alkarama submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions on 30 March 2011.