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Previous Action Alerts 06/16/06
June 16, 2006
SYRIA: Writer Mohammad Ghanem sentenced to six months for his critical writings; writer Michel Kilo charged; fears for safety.
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Full Story from International PEN:
RAPID ACTION NETWORK
14 June 2006
RAN 23/06
SYRIA: Writer Mohammad Ghanem sentenced to six months for his critical writings; writer Michel Kilo charged; fears for safety.
Correction to RAN16/06: It was erroneously reported that Mohammad Ghanem had been freed on 14 April – PEN apologises for the mistake.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the six-month prison sentence handed down to writer Mohammed Ghanem on 6 June 2006 for his critical articles published on-line. PEN is also seriously concerned about the continued detention of writer Michel Kilo, who was reportedly charged on 17 May 2006 with security offenses for signing a petition calling for a reform of relations between Syria and Lebanon. International PEN is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of writers Mohammed Ghanem and Michel Kilo in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory.
According to PEN’s information, Muhammad Ghanem, novelist and editor of the news Web site Surion, was convicted on 6 June 2006 by a military court of “insulting the Syrian President, discrediting the Syrian government and fomenting sectarian unrest” in his critical writings published on-line. Ghanem has written many articles advocating political and cultural rights for Syria’s Kurdish minority and has been critical of the Baath Party’s handling of domestic issues. Ghanem was reportedly sentenced to one year in jail but his sentence was commuted to six months for unknown reasons.
Ghanem was arrested on 31 March 2006 at his home in the northern town of al-Raqqah by military intelligence, and then transferred to Damascus, where he was detained in the “Palestine Branch” of the Military Intelligence Security (Branch 235). He was transferred in May to al-Raqqah al-Markazi prison.
Ghanem was previously arrested and detained for 15 days by military intelligence in March 2004.
Prominent writer and journalist Michel Kilo, who contributes to the leading Lebanese daily Al-Nahar and the London-based Arabic-language daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, was arrested on 14 May 2006. He is among 10 Syrian civil society activists to have been arrested between 14 and 18 May for signing the “Beirut-Damascus Declaration” of 12 May 2006 calling for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria based on respect for each countries’ sovereignty. Several hundred Syrian and Lebanese nationals signed the agreement. He is held incommunicado at ‘Adra prison near Damascus and is feared to be at risk of ill-treatment.
These arrests appear to be part of a renewed crackdown on government opponents in recent months, where scores have been arrested for their peaceful opposition activitites. Those who remain detained include journalist ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah, who was arrested on 23 March 2006, and writer and dissident Fateh Jamous, who was arrested on 2 May 2006.
Please send appeals:
- 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 immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civl and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory;
- 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
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Syria in your country if possible.