SYRIA: EMHRN Executive Committee member Danial Saoud
arbitrarily detained

Copenhagen – 24 April 2011. The Euro-Mediterranean Human
Rights Network (EMHRN) vigorously denounces the arbitrarily arrest and detention
of Mr. Danial Saoud, President of the Committees for the Defence of Democracy,
Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF) on Saturday 23 April.

Mr. Danial Saoud, a prominent human rights defender in Syria
and member of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network Executive Committee, was
arrested around 6:00 pm on Saturday 23 April in his home in Banyas, by unknown,
and he is now held incommunicado. Prior to his arrest, M. Danial Saoud has been
repeatedly summoned by security services and questioned on his human rights
activities.

The president of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
Kamel Jendoubi said “We are extremely worried about the situation of M. Danial
Saoud. We fear that he may be subjected to acts of torture or ill-treatments,
as we know these practices have been widely used during the past weeks. The
Syrian authorities should immediately and unconditionally proceed to his
liberation.”

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network expresses its
deepest concern as the crackdown carried out by the Syrian authorities on human
rights defenders and peaceful demonstrators continues. It strongly condemns the
pressures, threats, smearing campaigns and arbitrary measures carried out in a
systematic manner by the Syrian authorities against human rights defenders, and
fears that more human rights activists may be subjected to arbitrary arrests in
the upcoming days.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network calls upon the
Syrian government to release immediately and unconditionally Mr. Danial Saoud
as well as all persons arbitrarily detained for their participation in public
peaceful protests, to put an end to acts of torture and ill treatment on detained
persons and to cease the repression of peaceful protesters and all political
and human rights activists.

The EMHRN reminds that the Syrian government should abide
with its international human rights commitments in all circumstances and is
held internationally responsible for all violations committed under its
jurisdiction. 

For more information, please contact:

Marc Schade-Poulsen, EMHRN Executive director, +45 51 20 55
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