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Previous Action Alerts 08/25/06
August 31, 2006
SYRIA: Cyber-dissident Habib Saleh sentenced to three years
Habib Saleh, cyber-dissident and writer for Lebanese daily An-Nahar was convicted on August 16th for posting open letters online criticizing the Syrian government and describing his former time in prison. The trial reportedly lacked due process.
Story Continued...
Full Story From International PEN:
Click Here For Sample Letter of Appeal
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is deeply concerned about the imprisonment of cyber-dissident Habib Saleh. A court martial sentenced him to three years in prison on 16 August 2006 for “spreading false reports”.
Habib Saleh, cyber-dissident and writer for the Lebanese daily An-Nahar, was convicted on 16 August 2006 by a court martial following a trial which reportedly lacked due process. He regularly posted open letters, criticising the regime to the ruling Baath Party, as well as describing his previous spell in prison. Saleh also participated in chat forums such as the Democratic Party of the People in Syria’s Al-Rai’s and wrote for other websites, including Elaph.
Saleh was arrested in May 2005 in Tartus, north of Damascus, before being transferred inland to the city of Homs for his trial.
Background
In 2001 Saleh was arrested with other ‘Damasus Spring’ activists. The death of President Hafez al-Assad and the succession of his son Bashar brought with it a period of limited political freedom. During this time Saleh headed the Tartus Forum for National Democratic Dialogue. He was later charged with trying to change the constitution by illegal means, trying to discredit the government, spreading false reports and inciting sectarian strife and sedition. On 29 May 2002 he was sentenced to three years in prison.
International PEN condemns the imprisonment of Habib Saleh and calls for his immediate release. PEN is extremely concerned by the Syrian government’s continued imprisonment of writers who have exercised their right to freedom of expression.
Please send appeals:
- protesting the imprisonment of Habib Saleh and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory;
- protesting the detention of all writers currently detained in Syria for expressing their views, including Mohammad Ghanem, Michel Kilo, ‘Ali al-’Abdullah and Fateh Jamous, and calling for their release;
- expressing serious concern at reports that they are held incommunicado and are at risk of ill-treatment, and seeking immediate assurances of their well-being;
- demanding that whilst detained they are granted access to their families, lawyers and any necessary medical treatment.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 332 3410
His Excellency General Ghazi Kan’an
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
Merjeh Circle
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 222 3428
Email: admin@civilaffair-moi.gov.sy
If possible, copy letters to the Syrian Ambassador to the US -
Imad Moustapha, PhD
Ambassador of Syria to the U.S.A.
The Embassy of Syria
2215 Wyoming Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008