Wave of arrests against human rights defenders in Syria

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is deeply concerned about the
wave of arrests and trial of human rights activists and opposition figures in the recent past
months and about their escalation the past days.
Yesterday, 17 May 2006, in Damascus, human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni director of the
Syrian Centre for Judicial Studies, was arrested on the street by officers of the State Security
service and taken to an unknown location.
On May 16 Mr. Mahmud Maree, and Mr Nidhal Darwich were arrested by the state security
apparatus. Mahnoud Maree is the secretary of the Arab Organisation of Human Rights in Syria
and Mr Nidhal Darwich is a trustee of the Committees for Defence of Liberties and Human
Rights in Syria.
On May 14, Syrian authorities detained prominent writer and activist Michel Kilo. Kilo has long
called for reform in Syria and has criticized the government's involvement in the political affairs
of Lebanon.
All people arrested since May 14 are part of the Syrian group of the 300 Syrian and Lebanese
intellectuals signing the ‘Damascus Declaration’ (circulated on 11 May 2006) calling for better
relations between Lebanon and Syria and for the "respect and consolidation of the sovereignty
and independence of Lebanon and Syria within the framework of institutionalized and
transparent relations’
Also, at least four other signatories – member of the Kurdish Future Current Khalil Hussein
(member of the Kurdish Future Current), writer Khaled Khalife, Dr Safwan Tayfour and
Mahmoud ‘Issa have been arrested
On April 30, security agents arrested Fateh Jammous, a well-known member of the Communist
Labor Party was arrested upon his arrival at Damascus airport from a trip to Europe.
Several other human rights activists and political opponents have been taken by the security
services in the past months or heavily sentenced at the Supreme State Security Court known
for its unfair trials.

The EMHRN asks the Syrian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the
named prisoners as well as of all prisoners of conscience in Syria.

It welcomes EU declaration on Syria of today and asks it to follow-up on the
arrests vis-à-vis the Syrian government and requesting it to respect its international
and regional commitments to human rights and to release all political prisoners in Syria.