1 June 2013

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has received information concerning lawyer and human rights defender Khalil Matouk who has been detained since 02 October 2012. (For further information see GCHR appeal dated 9 March 2013 http://gc4hr.org/news/view/359)

Serious concern is now expressed for his health further to reliable reports received by the GCHR. Since his arrest, the human rights defender has been denied access to his family and lawyers as he remains in the custody of the state security forces, who refuse to disclose his whereabouts.

According to earlier reports received by the GCHR, detainees who have been released from State Security Branch 285 in Kafr Soussa in Damascus, have confirmed that they saw Khalil Matouk at the prison. Furthermore during recent months, guards at the prison leaked information that he was in good health.

However, reports received approximately two weeks ago from trustworthy sources, state that Khalil Matouk’s health is deteriorating and he is in extremely poor physical condition.  Serious concern is now expressed for his health and safety, particularly as he suffers from severe lung diseases, and it is feared that his life may be at serious risk.

The GCHR believes that Khalil Matouk is being detained arbitrarily and incommunicado as a direct result of the legitimate exercise of his profession as a lawyer and his peaceful human rights work. In light of the recent reports received regarding the condition of his health, the GCHR expresses serious concern for his well being and security and calls on the authorities to immediately release him.

The GCHR urges the authorities in Syria to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Khalil Matouk;
2. Immediately disclose the whereabouts of Khalil Matouk;
3. Grant Khalil Matouk immediate and unfettered access to the medical treatment which he requires;
4. Grant Khalil Matouk immediate and unfettered access to his families and lawyers;
5. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Khalil Matouk;
6. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

The GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 11: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession,” and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”