Syria: 359 arrested for alleged participation in peaceful
protests

21 April 2011

Click here to download a list of the 359 arrested between 1
– 10 April 2011

Alkarama has submitted to the UN Human Rights Special
Procedures the names of 359 individuals arrested following their alleged
participation in protests in Syria.

Syrian human rights organizations have signaled that more
than 800 individuals have been arrested since the authorities began cracking
down on peaceful protests in mid-March 2011 – yet demonstrators continue to
hold demonstrations calling for democratic reforms in Syria.

On 19 April 2011, the Syrian government approved a bill to
rescind Syria’s decades-old Emergency Law, which had, amongst its various
repressive measures on civil liberties, also restricted public gatherings.
Despite the repeal of the highly criticised 1963 Emergency Law, violence
against peaceful protestors continues – more than 200 demonstrators have been
killed over past ten days – begging questions as to President Assad’s regime’s
real intentions in formally legalising the much sought after rights to freedom
of opinion, expression and assembly.

Following to Alkarama’s communication to the UN on 30 March
2011 – regarding the arrest of 301 individuals – a further 359 arrests took
place between 1 to 10 April 2011, although some have now been released. Alkarama
is still currently processing the names and cases of those arrested since 10
April 2011, however fears this list will continue to grow in the coming weeks.
Those arrested and detained are at risk of torture and ill-treatment, which is
regularly practiced in Syria.

The growing list of arrestees only pales in comparison with
the list of those killed in recent days. Alkarama’s sources in the region
continue to compile lists of those who have been killed and arrested since 10
April and will be providing this information to relevant UN human rights
protection mechanisms.

In light of the degrading situation in Syria, Alkarama, as
well as other NGOs, both Syrian, regional and international, applaud the UN
Human Rights Council’s decision to hold a special session on "The
situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic", scheduled for
Friday 29 April 2011 at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland.