\nPRESS RELEASE\n<\/p>\n
\nClick Here to Access Full Report<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \nSyria’s surge of deaths in detention revealed <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \nAt least 88 people are believed to have died in detention in \nDeadly detention: Deaths in custody amid popular protest in \nThe 88 deaths represented a significant escalation in the \n“These deaths behind bars are reaching massive proportions, \n“The accounts of torture we have received are horrific. We \nThe victims recorded in the report were all swept up in arrests \nAll the victims are believed to have been detained because \nIn at least 52 of these cases there is evidence that torture \nAmnesty International has seen video clips of 45 of the \nInjuries on many of the victims’ corpses indicate that they \nMost of the cases in the report occurred in Homs and Dera’a \nThirteen-year-old Hamza Ali al-Khateeb disappeared on 29 \nOne video clip seen by Amnesty International shows the body \nThe body of Dr Sakher Hallak, who ran an eating disorders \nAmnesty International is not aware of any independent \nAmnesty International has called on the UN Security Council \n“Taken in the context of the widespread and systematic \n“The response from the Security Council has been utterly \nAmnesty International has compiled the names of more than \nNotes for editors:\n<\/p>\n \nSpokespeople\n<\/p>\n \nAmnesty International spokespeople are available to speak \n– The brother of Dr Sakher Hallak, Mr Hazem Hallak, based in \nB-roll footage\n<\/p>\n \nInterviews with Amnesty International’s Syria researcher \n \n<\/p>\n \nMap\n<\/p>\n \nAn interactive “Eyes on Syria” map – showing the location of \nPublic Document\n<\/p>\n \n****************************************\n<\/p>\n \nInternational Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton
\nSyria during five months of bloody repression of pro-reform protests, a new
\nAmnesty International report reveals today.\n<\/p>\n
\nSyria documents reported deaths in custody between April and mid-August in the
\nwake of sweeping arrests.\n<\/p>\n
\nnumber of deaths following arrest in Syria. In recent years Amnesty
\nInternational has typically recorded around five deaths in custody per year in
\nSyria.\n<\/p>\n
\nand appear to be an extension of the same brutal disdain for life that we are
\nseeing daily on the streets of Syria,” said Neil Sammonds, Amnesty
\nInternational’s researcher on Syria.\n<\/p>\n
\nbelieve the Syrian government to be systematically persecuting its own people
\non a vast scale.”\n<\/p>\n
\nafter Syrians took to the streets en masse from March this year. All male, the
\nvictims include 10 children, some as young as 13.\n<\/p>\n
\nthey were involved, or suspected of being involved, in the pro-reform protests.\n<\/p>\n
\nor other ill-treatment caused or contributed to the deaths.\n<\/p>\n
\ncases – taken by relatives, activists or other individuals – and has asked
\nindependent forensic pathologists to review a number of these.\n<\/p>\n
\nmay have suffered horrendous beatings and other abuses. Signs indicating
\ntorture include burns, blunt force injuries, whipping marks and slashes.\n<\/p>\n
\ngovernorates, which have seen major protests. Deaths in detention have also
\nbeen reported in five other governorates, namely Damascus and Rif Damashq,
\nIdlib, Hama and Aleppo.\n<\/p>\n
\nApril during protests against the siege of Dera’a, and was later found dead
\nwith apparent blunt force injuries and a severed penis.\n<\/p>\n
\nof Tariq Ziad Abd al-Qadr from Homs, which was returned to his family on 16
\nJune. His injuries included pulled-out hair, marks to the neck and penis
\npossibly caused by electric shocks, an apparent cigarette burn, whipping marks,
\nstab wounds and burns.\n<\/p>\n
\nclinic in Aleppo, was discovered by the side of a road a few days after his
\narrest on 25 May. Sources told Amnesty International that his injuries included
\nbroken ribs, arms and fingers, gouged eyes and mutilated genitals.\n<\/p>\n
\ninvestigation having been carried out into the causes of death in any of the
\ncases in the report.\n<\/p>\n
\nto refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, to impose
\nan arms embargo on Syria and to implement an asset freeze against President
\nBashar al-Assad and his senior associates.\n<\/p>\n
\nviolations taking place in Syria, we believe that these deaths in custody may
\ninclude crimes against humanity,” said Neil Sammonds.\n<\/p>\n
\ninadequate so far, but it is not too late for them to take firm and legally
\nbinding action.”\n<\/p>\n
\n1,800 people reported to have died since pro-reform protests began. Thousands
\nof others have been arrested, with many held incommunicado at unknown locations
\nat risk of torture or death.\n<\/p>\n
\nabout this report in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. Please call Amnesty
\nInternational’s press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: press@amnesty.org<\/a>\n<\/p>\n
\nthe USA, is available for interview in English or Arabic about his experience.
\nAmnesty International can provide contact details on request.\n<\/p>\n
\nNeil Sammonds, as well as video footage used to develop this report is
\navailable at http:\/\/tiny.cc\/syria-deadlydetention-ai\n<\/p>\n
\nthe deaths in custody in this report, can be found at http:\/\/eyesonsyria.org
\n(will go live at report embargo time)\n<\/p>\n
\nSt., London WC1X 0DW, UK\n<\/p>\n