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| Trial against Aktham Naisse continues on Sunday | Date: 21-10-2004 |
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Trial against Aktham Naisse continues on Sunday. Syrian Human Rights Defender received great international support during Europe visit. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is concerned about the up-coming hearing of its individual member, Mr. Aktham Naisse, before the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) in Damascus. International observers sent by EMHRN and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders to earlier hearings have expressed serious doubts that Mr Naisse will receive a fair trial. This is particularly alarming in the context of the recent initialling of the EU-Syria Association Agreement two days ago which contains a clause stating that respect for human rights and democratic principles is an essential element of the agreement. Tomorrow, Friday 22 October, Mr. Naisse is returning to Syria as the trial against him will continue on Sunday 24 Oct. He was released on bail on 17 August after being imprisoned since 13 April 2004. Mr. Naisse has just visited Belgium, the Netherlands and France where he met with representatives of around 20 EU governments and with representatives of the European Commission and European Parliament who expressed their full support for him. In Brussels he was also awarded the international human rights prize “Ludovic Trarieux” of 2004 by the European Bar Human Rights Institute and the Bar Associations of Paris, Brussels and Bordeaux. The award is but one of the proofs of the significant international support that Mr. Naisse has received for his work on promoting reforms and democratic developments in Syria since the Syrian authorities’ harassment against him and his organisation CDF (the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria) intensified this spring. The European Parliament invited Aktham Naisse to return to Brussels soon for a hearing in the framework of the ratification process of the EU-Syria Association Agreement. The EMHRN calls upon: § The Syrian authorities to release all imprisoned human rights defenders immediately and unconditionally. § The Syrian authorities to drop all charges against Mr. Aktham Naisse. § The European Union to demand that Syria respects international human rights and international laws, particularly now that the EU initialled the Association Agreement with Syria. § The international community to strongly express its concern about the situation for human rights defenders and human rights organisations in Syria, and to support them actively. § The representatives of the foreign diplomatic cores and delegations of the EU Commission and EU Member States to be present at the trial hearing of Aktham Naisse on 24 October. For further information please contact: Marit Floe Joergensen, Information Officer Tel: +45-32 69 89 12 / Fax: +45-32 95 65 54 E-mail: info@euromedrights.net |
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