December 6, 2011<\/p>\n
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), requests your urgent intervention on the following situation in Syria.<\/p>\n
Background information:<\/p>\n
The Observatory has been informed by the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) of the arrest and incommunicado detention of Ms. Razan Ghazzawi, blogger and SCM Media Officer. <\/p>\n
\u00a0According to the information received, on December 4, 2011, Syrian immigration police at Syria\/Jordan border arrested Ms. Razan Ghazzawi, while she was heading to Amman, Jordan, to attend the Forum of Defenders and Media Freedom in the Arab World as the representative of the SCM. No information could be obtained as to her current place of detention.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Observatory is deeply concerned with the arrest and incommunicado detention of Ms. Ghazzawi, and fears for her physical and psychological integrity. The Observatory calls upon the Syrian authorities to take prompt action in order to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Ms. Ghazzawi and release her immediately as her arrest seems to merely aim at sanctioning her human rights activities.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Actions requested:
\n Please write to the Syrian authorities, urging them to:<\/p>\n
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Razan Ghazzawi;
\n ii. Take prompt action in order to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Ms. Ghazzawi and release her immediately and unconditionally, as her arrest seems to merely aim at sanctioning her human rights activities;
\n iii. Order an immediate, thorough, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law;
\n iv. Put an end to any kind of harassment against Ms. Razan Ghazzawi and all human rights defenders in Syria;
\n v. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially:<\/p>\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;<\/p>\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 its Article 5 (a), which states that “for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels to meet or assemble peacefully”;<\/p>\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and its Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;<\/p>\n
vi. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by the Syrian Arab Republic.<\/p>\n
Addresses:<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President, His Excellency Bashar al-Assad, Presidential Palace, al Rashid Street, Damascus, Syria Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 332 3410;<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minister of Defence, His Excellency General, Ali Habib Mahmud, Ministry of Defence, O mayyad Square, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 223 7842;<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minister of Justice, His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Hamod Younes, Mazeh “Otstrad”, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 666 2460<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Wallid Mu’allim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, al-Rashid Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 332 7620;<\/p>\n