Syria: Freedom for Haithem Al-Maleh

Twenty-one human rights organisations have signed the following press release as a result of deep concerns for the deteriorating health of Syrian lawyer, Mr. Haitham Al-Maleh, currently held against his will at Damascus Central Prison (Adra). He is currently suffering from severe health problems, associated with diabetes and hyperactivity of the thyroid, as well as the flu, all of which pose a serious threat to his life at the age of 79. Since his arrest on 14 October 2009, he has been in detention awaiting trial after Damascus' military magistrate, on 3 November 2009, accused him of "publishing false news, affecting the national morale", under the provisions of Article 286 of the Syrian Penal Code, which considers it an offense to criticize public administration.

Following his arrest by the Syrian authorities on 14 October 2009, Haitham Al-Maleh was effectively disappeared until 27 October 2009 when he was referred to the military prosecutor who questioned him with regards to a number media interviews he had done and a series of articles he had written.

Haitham al-Maleh, born in Damascus in 1931, is a Syrian lawyer and human rights activist who holds a law degree and a diploma in international law. He started his career as a lawyer in 1957 and then moved on to the Syrian judiciary in 1958. The Syrian authorities subsequently issued a special law in 1966 and he was discharged because of his work as a judge. He later returned to the field of law and was an active lawyer up until his arrest in October 2009.

His work as a political activist began in 1951 during the military rule of President Adib Al-Shishakli. Due to his demands for constitutional reforms he was arrested in 1980 and detained until 1986 along with other political activists, trade unionists and government opponents. He eventually went on several hunger strikes during his detention, which totaled 110 days, of which 70 days were consecutive.

Since 1989 he has been working with Amnesty International and in 2002, with the help of a number of activists, was able to establish the Human Rights Association in Syria.

In the light of Haithem Al-Maleh's continued detention and deteriorating health, the organizations signing this press release believe that the accusations against Haitham Al-Maleh are contrary to the edicts relevant to the right of expression according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was acceded to by Syria in 1969. The signatories therefore request the Syrian government to drop all charges against Haitham Al-Maleh, and call for his immediate release due to his deteriorating health.

The organisations mentioned below have been closely following some of the positive steps taken by the Syrian government in recent months and look forward to more effective steps in respect of and for the promotion of human rights by the Syrian government; such as the issuance of a general amnesty for political prisoners and all prisoners of conscience in Syrian prisons in respect of the international commitments to human rights which have been signed and ratified by the Syrian government.

Freedom for fellow lawyer Haitham Maleh! Freedom for all prisoners of conscience!

Signatories:

National Organization for Human Rights in Syria (Syria).
Arab Commission for Human Rights (Paris).
Syrian Association for the Defense of Human Rights (Syria).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (United Kingdom).
Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners (Egypt).
Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary (Egypt).
Arab Institute for Development and Citizenship (London).
Arab Union for Human Rights Defenders (Egypt).
Alkarama (Switzerland).
National Center for Human Rights in Egypt (Egypt).
The Arab Union for Human Rights and International Law (Norway).
Arab Organization for Penal Reform (Egypt).
Damascus Center for Theoretical Studies and Civil Rights (Sweden).
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (Egypt).
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Monitor) - (Palestine - Lebanon).
Arab World Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights (Jordan).
Voice of the Law Foundation (Jordan).
Network of Democrats in the Arab World (London).
Tunisian League for Human Rights (Tunisia).
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (Bahrain).
Egyptian Democratic Institute (Egypt).
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (Bahrain).