The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
Case SYR 220699
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention
in the following situation in Syria.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat has just been informed of the grave concern
for the physical and psychological integrity and the life of a detainee,
Mrs. Douha Ashour Al-Askari in Syria.
According to the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Freedoms
and Human Rights in Syria, member of the OMCT network, Mrs. Al-
Askari was arrested in 1993. In 1994, she was brought to trial and
sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the State Security High Court,
on charges of membership of the political party Douha Comunist Action..
In the beginning of her detention, she gave birth to a child, from who
she was separated.
According to the information received, although she has completed her
sentence (4 months ago), the Syrian authorities continue to hold her in
detention.
Mrs. Al-Askari has been on hunger strike for more that 10 days, in
protest against her arbitrary detention.
The International Secretariat of OMCT shares the concerns of the
Committees for the Defence of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights
in Syria for the life and the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs.
Douha Ashour Al-Askari and calls upon the Syrian authorities to release
her immediately and unconditionally.
Action requested
Please write to the Syrian authorities urging them to
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs.
Douha Ashour Al-Askari and release herimmediately and
unconditionally;
ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into her arbitrary
detention, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil
competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil
and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii.ensure in all circumstance respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human
rights standards.
Addresses
His Excellency, President Hafez al-Assad, Presidential Palace, Damascus,
Syrian Arab Republic
His Excellency, Mahmoud Zuabi, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime
Minister, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
His Excellency Dr Muhammad Harba, Minster of the Interior, Ministry of
the Interior
Merjeh Circle, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax+ 963 11 222 3428
Geneva, June 22 1999
