Syria: More than a thousand arrested since beginning of
protests

06 May 2011

Click here to download a list of the 716 arrested between 9
April and 2 May 2011

Alkarama has received confirmation from Syria that 716
people were arrested during protests between 9 April and 2 May 2011. While
Alkarama has alerted the UN human rights procedures of this staggering figure,
Syrian NGOs claim that the total number of arrests is closer to a thousand,
since protests began in mid-March 2011.

Alkarama had previously submitted 301
cases to the UN on 30 March 2011 and 359
cases on 21 April 2011. For fear that the Syrian
authorities will torture detainees, which is frequently the case, Alkarama
has also sent the 716 cases to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

What is particularly alarming, human rights defenders in
Syria claim to have only been able to document 10% of the arrests. News reports
alleged that schools and even the Al Baladi (‘national’) stadium in Daraa are
being used to incarcerate those arrested. This only demonstrates the Syrian
authorities total unwillingness to reason with protestors in a peaceful manner,
despite calls from the international community for restraint. This ongoing
pattern is extremely alarming.

The growing list of arrestees only pales in comparison with
the list of those killed in recent weeks. Syrian security and military forces
have used excessively violent force, including the use of live ammunition to
try to disperse protesters, resulting in more than 800 deaths to date.

Alkarama is also informed that despite the abolition of the
emergency law and the State Security Court on 20 April 2011, arbitrary arrests
and human rights abuses continue to be committed by the authorities with total
impunity, particularly in Daraa, which is still under a military blockade.

Alkarama request the International Community intervene with
the Syrian government on behalf of the Syrian people. We also request the
Syrian government to immediately remedy to the situation by releasing those who
are detained; ensuring that those detained are not exposed to torture or
ill-treatment; taking appropriate sanctions against those who mistreat peaceful
demonstrators; and to make sure that Human
Rights Council Resolution S-16/1 is respected.

Click here to download the list of the 716 individuals
arrested between 9 April and 2 May 2011.