Relatives of activists targeted in retaliation – Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS)

SYRIA: Relatives of activists targeted in retaliation

Copenhagen, Geneva, Paris. September 1, 2011- The
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the Observatory for the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture
(OMCT), and the Euromediterranean Federation against enforced disappearances
(FEMED) strongly condemn the Syrian authorities for intensifying arbitrary
arrests and systematic acts of harassment against human rights defenders as
well as pro-democracy activists and members of their families.

On August 30 2011, the Air Force Intelligence, one of the
many security bodies active in Syria, arrested Mr. Yassine Ziadeh in the Damascus
area of Daraya. His whereabouts remained unknown at the time of publication.
Our organizations fear that he may be subjected to acts of ill treatment or
torture in the current intensification of the repression against the social
protest movement and their alleged supporters.

Mr. Yassine Ziadeh is the brother of Mr. Radwan Ziadeh,
President of the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS), a member
organisation of EMHRN and FIDH. He is a businessman and has reportedly not been
involved in the movement of protest nor in human rights activities.

“This arrest is a new illustration of the systematic
campaign of repression led by the Syrian authorities against all dissenting
voices and human rights defenders”, stated Kamel Jendoubi, EMHRN President.
“The Syrian authorities should immediately stop the targeting of relatives of
human rights defenders. Clearly this is done to intimidate them or to force
them to surrender.”

“Again the authorities demonstrate the little consideration
they have for the respect of basic human rights standards. This calls for a
strong condemnation by the international community”, said Souhayr Belhassen,
FIDH President.

Since the beginning of the unrest in Syria, Mr. Radwan
Ziadeh – who is exiled in the US – has played an active role in denouncing the
continuous degradation of the human rights situation in the country. Due to his
activities, Mr. Radwan Ziadeh has been repeatedly submitted to threats as well
as smearing campaigns in Syria[1]. Members of his family who still live in
Syria have been banned from traveling abroad since February 2007.

“The fight of Radwan Ziadeh to shed light on international
crimes committed in Syria and for the truth to be made in cases of enforced
disappearances should be encouraged not hindered!”, said Nassera Dutour, FEMED
President.

Since the beginning of the uprising in the country, the
Syrian security apparatus has, on numerous occasions, targeted human rights and
pro-democracy activists through members of their families. On August 20, 2011,
the security apparatus arrested Mr. Mohammed Khair Ghalioun, the brother of
pro-democracy activist Bourhan Ghalioun, based in France. A few weeks before
that, Mr. Wael Hamada, the husband of prominent human rights lawyer Razan
Zeituna and Wael´s brother Abdulrahman Hamada were also arrested in a bid to
force her to surrender. Family members of activist Dana Ibrahim Aljawabra and
human rights and pro-democracy activist Ali Al Abdallah were also subjected to
similar arrests in July 2011. These cases are not isolated and appear to lie in
the framework of a systematic and deliberate strategy.

“Targeting family member brings us back to the Middle Ages”,
said Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General. “The fact that these events come
only days after the UN Human Rights Council had condemned Syria for its human
rights violations following the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights shows the defiance to the human rights system. We need urgently an end
to such violations. And we need international accountability for those
responsible for such atrocious acts”, he added.

The EMHRN, the Observatory and the FEMED urge the Syrian
authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment against human rights
defenders and pro-democracy activists to immediately and unconditionally
release all persons arbitrarily detained and to conform in all circumstances
with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998) as well as
international human rights instruments, which bind the Syrian authorities.

For more information, please contact

• EMHRN : Mathieu Routier : +33 6 87 02 02 70

• FIDH : Arthur Manet : +33 1 43 55 25 18

• OMCT : Delphine Reculeau : +41 22 809 49 39

• FEMED : Nassera Dutour, President : +33 6 13 07 29 13