URGENT ACTION

SYRIAN MAN RELEASED

Wa’el Hammada, a Syrian man who had been held incommunicado
detention and reportedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, was
released on bail on 1 August. He and his brother ‘Abd al-Rahman Hammada have
been charged and are currently awaiting trial.

Following his arrest on 12 May and incommunicado detention
at an Air Force Security branch in Damascus, Wa’el Hammada was taken before an
investigative judge on 12 July. He was allowed to meet with his lawyer for 15
minutes. The judge charged Wa’el Hammada with “weakening national sentiment”
(Article 285 of the Syrian Penal Code), “causing sectarian strife” (Article
307), charges related to participation in “secret organizations” (Article 327)
and charges related to participation in and incitement of riots (Articles 335
and 336).

On the same day, Wa’el Hammada was taken to ‘Adra prison,
near Damascus, where he remained until his release. During his detention at
‘Adra, he was allowed to receive visits from his lawyer. He is now reunited
with his family while awaiting trial.

Amnesty International has been informed that Wa’el Hammada
was kept in solitary confinement during the last 25 days of his initial
detention at the Air Force Security branch. Reliable sources have said that he
was tortured and otherwise ill-treated while held there and that his
interrogation was focused on the activities of his wife, Razan Zaitouneh, a
prominent Syrian human rights lawyer. Amnesty International therefore believes
that his charges may be related both to his own peaceful involvement in popular
protests calling for political reform and to the human rights work of his wife.

Thanks to all of those who took action on behalf of Wa’el
Hammada and his brother ‘Abd al-Rahman Hammada. No further appeals from the
network are required at present but Amnesty International will continue to
monitor this case.

This is the first update of UA 232/11.

Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE24/037/2011/en

Name: Wa’el Hammada

Gender m/f: male

Further information on UA:232/11 Index: MDE 24/040/2011
Issue Date: 11 August 2011