Lawyer Haitham al-Maleh referred to the Military Courts

Lawyer Haitham al-Maleh referred to the Military Courts

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) has strongly criticised the ongoing detention of the senior Syrian lawyer and human rights activist Mr. Haitham al-Maleh, and his referral to the military courts, which he is expected to stand before on Wednesday 21/10/2009.

The media spokesperson of SHRC commented that “the arrest of Mr. Haitham al-Maleh is a clear violation of his right to express his opinion; and that his ongoing detainment and referral to a military court is a disgrace to the Syrian security authorities which are not considerate to his advanced age, nor to his legal and jurisprudent expertise. They do not even consider his courage to express his views, aiming to sort out the complex problems caused by the security regime in Syria

The SHRC media spokesperson concluded his comment by requesting to immediately free Mr. Haitham al-Maleh, and to stop confiscating citizens’ freedoms due to practising their natural and legitimate rights by expressing their views peacefully.

Syrian Human Rights Committee20/10/2009

Further Deteriorations of Press Freedom in Syria

 Reporters without Borders issued today its annual Press Freedom Index for the year 2009 in which the countries of the world are ranked and classified according to the organisation’s views and standards to the press freedoms. Syria was ranked 165 out of 175 countries; therefore it is counted as the tenth worst country in the world in press and media freedoms.

 The rank of Syria has deteriorated further from that of last year (2008) when it was ranked 159 out of 173 countries.

The categorisation of Reporters Without Borders, whether totally or partially approved, gives undisputable indication of the abyss Syria has reached and how the press and media in Syria are in the grip of strict surveillance and absolute control, adding to that the pressure and repression practised against reporters, media men and bloggers who tend to express their independent views or represent the other opinion.

The index of Reporters Without Borders is but a station to pause at and contemplate the wretched situation of the press and media freedoms in Syria. Therefore, the Syrian Human Rights Committee calls upon the Syrian authorities to lift all control and monitoring of press, media and internet, to release all press freedoms and to free reporters, journalists and bloggers detained on the background of executing their press and media works.

Syrian Human Rights Committee20/10/2009