Syria: Writers released in amnesty; others remain detained

English PEN welcomes the news that a number of dissident writers in Syria have been released in recent weeks. We nevertheless remain deeply concerned for a number of writers who are still being held in violation of their right to freedom of expression, and continue to call for their immediate and unconditional release.

According to our information, several dissident writers arrested during the recent crackdown on anti-government protests were released as part of a presidential amnesty announced on 2 June 2011. Those released include journalist and writer Mahmoud Issa, freelance journalist for a number of news outlets including Le Monde Khaled Sid Mohand, Al-Arabiya net correspondent Zaid Mastu, and novelist Raghdah Sa’id Hassan.

We were also pleased to learn that two other cases of concern to PEN have been released in recent weeks. Journalist and writer Mohamed Dibo was reportedly freed on 25 May 2011, whilst Aljazeera.net correspondent Dorothy Parvaz was released in mid-May 2011 after being deported to Iran. (To see an interview with Dorothy following her release, and to read her report ‘Inside Syria’s Secret Prisons’, please click here.)

Nevertheless, English PEN remains deeply concerned for the safety of our fellow writers in Syria. We are particularly concerned about the following cases who have not been included in the amnesty and remain at risk of ill-treatment in detention:

Blogger and poet Tal Al-Mallouhi who was arrested on 27 December 2009 and sentenced to five years in prison on 14 February 2011. (For more information, please click here.)
 
Writer and editor Najati Tayara who was arrested on 12 May 2011 and remains detained without charge. He has reportedly been transferred to a detention centre in Damascus. (For more information, please click here.)

We are urgently seeking guarantees of their safety, and continue to call for their immediate and unconditional release. We respectfully 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.

Useful links:

- ‘Syria: Crimes Against Humanity in Daraa (Human Rights Watch)

TAKE ACTION:

Please send appeals immediately to the Syrian authorities:

- Welcoming the release of writers journalists and bloggers Raghdah Sa’id Hassan,  Mahmoud Issa, Khaled Sid Mohand, Zaid Mastu, Khaled Sid Mohand, Mohamed Dibo and Dorothy Parvaz;

- Protesting the continued detention of all those currently held solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions, including writer and editor Najati Tayara and blogger and poet Tal- Al-Mallouhi;

- Condemning the widespread arrest of journalists and bloggers for reporting on the recent protests, which PEN 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

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