\nURGENT ACTION\n<\/p>\n
\nKURDISH POLITICAL ACTIVIST AT RISK OF TORTURE<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \nKurdish political activist and human rights lawyer, Sabri \nSabri Mirza was arrested and handed over to Political \nThe charges against Sabri Mirza are not known but Amnesty \nSabri Mirza, 60 years old, who is married and the father of \n \n<\/p>\n \nPLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic, English, French or your \n– \n– \n– \nPLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 JULY 2011 TO:\n<\/p>\n \nPresident\n<\/p>\n \nBashar al-Assad <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nPresidential Palace\n<\/p>\n \nal-Rashid Street <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nDamascus, Syrian Arab Republic\n<\/p>\n \nFax: +963 11 332 3410\n<\/p>\n \nSalutation: Your Excellency\n<\/p>\n \nMinister of Foreign Affairs\n<\/p>\n \nWalid al-Mu’allim <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nMinistry of Foreign Affairs\n<\/p>\n \nal-Rashid Street\n<\/p>\n \nDamascus, Syrian Arab Republic <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nFax: +963 11 214 6251\n<\/p>\n \nSalutation: Your Excellency\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>Also send copies to \nURGENT ACTION\n<\/p>\n \nKURDISH POLITICAL ACTIVIST AT RISK OF TORTURE\n<\/p>\n \nADDITIONAL INFORMATION\n<\/p>\n \nSince popular protests calling for political reform in Syria
\nMirza, has been held at an unknown location following his arrest in Qamishly,
\nnorthern Syria, on 13 June. He is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment
\nand may be a prisoner of conscience detained solely for peacefully expressing
\nhis political views.\n<\/p>\n
\nSecurity forces on 13 June after the local police department in Qamishly
\nsummoned him, allegedly to discuss lifting his long-standing travel ban. While
\ndetained at the police station, he was allowed to call a friend to bring him
\nmedication for the diabetes and heart disease from which he suffers. Sabri
\nMirza phoned his friend again on 15 June around 4am to tell him that the
\nsecurity forces were taking him to Damascus, the capital, imminently. He has
\nbeen held incommunicado at an unknown location since then.\n<\/p>\n
\nInternational believes he may have been targeted due to the senior position he
\nholds within the unauthorized Kurdish Yekiti Party in Syria. According to
\nsources within the party, Sabri Mirza recently co-authored a statement
\naddressed to the Syrian authorities declining their request for dialogue with
\nKurdish political parties. The statement emphasized that dialogue would only be
\npossible if the security forces refrained from further violence against
\npeaceful protesters.\n<\/p>\n
\nnine children, is a prominent human rights lawyer and has regularly provided
\nlegal representation to Kurdish activists targeted by the Syrian authorities.
\nHe has participated in peaceful demonstrations in Qamishly which have taken
\nplace over the past few months. His arrest and detention could be linked to the
\ncurrent government clampdown on public protests and suspected opposition
\nfigures. Reports of torture and other ill-treatment in detention heighten the
\nconcern for Sabri Mirza’s safety. Sabri Mirza suffers from diabetes and heart
\ndisease and requires monitoring, guaranteed access to medication and must
\nfollow a specific diet. It is not known whether he is provided with the
\nmedication and diet he requires.\n<\/p>\n
\nown language or your own language:\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Expressing concern that
\nSabri Mirza is being detained incommunicado and at unknown location, asking for
\ninformation regarding his place of detention, the reason for his arrest and his
\nlegal status, and calling for him to be fully protected from torture and other
\nill-treatment, allowed contact with his family and a lawyer of his choice, and
\nprovided with regular medication and any medical attention he requires;\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Expressing concern that
\nSabri Mirza is being detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to
\nexpress his political views and noting that, if this is the case, Amnesty
\nInternational would consider him a prisoner of conscience and call for his
\nimmediate and unconditional release;\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Urging the Syrian
\nauthorities to take immediate steps to name and disclose the whereabouts of all
\npolitical detainees and to give them immediate access to lawyers of their
\nchoosing and their families, and to safeguard them from torture and other
\nill-treatment.\n<\/p>\n
\ndiplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section
\noffice if sending appeals after the above date.\n<\/p>\n
\nbegan to be violently repressed in mid-March, more than 1,000 people, including
\nchildren, are believed to have been killed. Many of them appear to have been
\nkilled as a result of the security forces using live ammunition on peaceful
\nprotests or during military operations by the Syrian army in a number of
\ncities. Thousands of others have been arrested by the Syrian army and security
\nforces, and hundreds remain detained incommunicado, despite a “general amnesty”
\nthat was issued on 31 May. Please see\n<\/p>\n