Syria: Journalists, bloggers and writers detained, fears for safety

English PEN strongly condemns the killing, mass arrests and disappearances of civilians including several journalists, bloggers, writers and activists in the crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests which has been taking place across Syrian cities since mid-March 2011. PEN is seriously concerned for the welfare of at least five journalists and bloggers arrested for writing about the protests. All are held incommunicado and considered to be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. There are mounting concerns for their safety. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Syria for the peaceful exercise of their opinions, and urgently seeks guarantees of their safety. We remind the Syrian authorities of their obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a signatory, and are alarmed at the apparent use of excessive force to suppress peaceful dissent.

According to our information, anti-government protests were sparked in mid- March 2011 and have since spread across the country. Mass arrests have been taking place and security officers have responded to the continuing protests with excessive force, using tear gas and live bullets to disperse demonstrators. Scores of civilians have reportedly been killed and many more wounded. The following journalists are amongst those believed to be currently detained:

Dorothy Parvaz: Aljazeera.net correspondent, arrested on 29 April 2011.
Mahmoud Issa: Journalist and writer, arrested on 19 April 2011.
Khaled Sid Mohand: Freelance journalist for a number of news outlets including  Le Monde, arrested on 12 April 2011.
Zaid Mastu: Al-Arabiya net correspondent, arrested on 12 April 2011.
Mohamed Dibo: Journalist and writer, arrested on 12 April 2011.

With the internet and media already severely curtailed in recent years, the Syrian authorities have imposed even greater restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in reaction to recent events. Foreign reporters and correspondents have been asked to leave the country and access to any independent media is denied.  

Useful links:

- Amnesty International statement (25 April 2011)

- Amnesty International Statement (22 April 2011)

- Latest BBC news report

TAKE ACTION

We are urging all members and friends of English PEN to write immediately to the Syrian authorities on behalf of several writers that are currently detained. A sample letter follows:

- Condemning the widespread arrest of journalists and bloggers for reporting on the recent protests, which the WiPC believes is a clear violation of their right to freedom of expression;

- Calling on the Syrian authorities to investigate allegations of torture of detainees;

- Calling for the release of all those currently detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Syria is a signatory.

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 Said Sammour
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 the UK:

His Excellency Dr. Sami Khiyami
Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic
8 Belgrave Square,
London
SW1X 8PH
Fax: 020 7235 4621
Email: info@syrianembassy.co.uk

SAMPLE LETTER

Please do write a more personal letter if you have time – the following is just an example.

His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street       
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic

[DATE]                                                                                                            

Your Excellency,
 
I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of the international association of writers, to strongly condemn the killing, mass arrests and disappearances of civilians – including several journalists, bloggers, writers and activists – in the crackdown on recent peaceful anti-government protests in Syrian cities.

According to PEN’s information, anti-government protests were sparked in mid-March 2011 and have since spread across Syria. Mass arrests have been taking place and security officers have responded to the continuing protests with excessive force, using tear gas and live bullets to disperse demonstrators. Scores of civilians have reportedly been killed and many more wounded.

I am especially concerned for the safety of the following journalists who reported on the protests and who are amongst those believed to be detained at present: Dorothy Parvaz, Aljazeera.net correspondent, arrested 29 April 2011; Mahmoud Issa, journalist and writer, arrested 19 April 2011; Khaled Sid Mohand, freelance journalist for Le Monde, arrested 12 April 2011; Zaid Mastu, Al-Arabiya net correspondent, arrested 12 April 2011; and Mohamed Dibo, journalist and writer, arrested 12 April 2011. All are held incommunicado and there are widespread fears that they are at risk of torture and ill-treatment. I therefore respectfully call on the Syrian authorities to investigate these allegations of torture.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind your government of its political and moral obligations. The recent crackdown on writers in Syria is yet another blow to freedom of expression in a country where the internet and media are already severely curtailed, foreign reporters and correspondents have been asked to leave the country, and access to any independent media is denied. Syria is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and is currently in violation of Article 19 of this Covenant. I urge your government to address this contravention as a matter of utmost importance.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME]

*** Please let us know if you have sent an appeal, and certainly if you should receive any response from the Syrian authorities.***

For further information please contact Ghias Aljundi  at PEN International Writers in Prison Committee. Tel. 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: 44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: Ghias.Aljundi@pen-international.org