{"id":523,"date":"2012-05-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-05-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dchrs.org\/?p=523","title":{"rendered":"Brothers Held Incommunicado for Months: Ghassan Mustafa Ma\u2019lul and Ahmad Mustafa Ma\u2019lul"},"content":{"rendered":"

4 May 2012
\n URGENT ACTION <\/strong><\/p>\n

Syrian brothers Ghassan Mustafa Ma’lul and Ahmad Mustafa Ma’lul were arrested at a checkpoint at al-Rabikh, near Saraqeb, Idlib province, in northern Syria on 20 November 2011 and have been held in incommunicado detention since. On 13 April 2012, they were shown on Syrian TV “confessing” to murder. Amnesty International believes they are at serious risk of torture or other ill-treatment. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Brothers Ghassan Mostafa Ma’alul<\/strong> and Ahmad Mostafa Ma’alul<\/strong> were working on a well-digging project near their hometown of Saraqeb when they were arrested by members of the security forces manning a checkpoint. According to a source in Syria, after their arrest they were taken to the Political Security branch in Idlib. When the family attempted to bring them clothes, a member of the security forces confirmed that both men were being held there but were not allowed visits and the family was not allowed to leave anything for them. The same source told Amnesty International that the men were not allowed to see a lawyer. <\/p>\n

According to released detainees, both men were moved to a Political Security branch in the capital, Damascus, in early April 2012 and returned to the same branch in Idlib on 18 April. One person detained with the brothers in Idlib claimed that both were tortured repeatedly prior to being moved to Damascus. The authorities have not advised the family of the reason for their arrest, but on 13 April, both men appeared on a government-run Syrian TV station “confessing” to being part of a group that killed two men in exchange for money on 2 October 2011. They also “confessed” to other criminal activities including arson. The family does not believe the brothers were involved in these crimes. In an earlier public “confession” on the same TV station, in December 2011, another detainee stated that he had heard a different person claiming to have killed, with the help of a relative, the same two men. <\/p>\n

Please write immediately in<\/strong> Arabic, English, French<\/strong> or your own language: <\/strong>
\n Expressing concern that Ghassan Mustafa Ma’lul and Ahmad Mostafa Ma’lul have been detained incommunicado since 20 November 2011 and urging the authorities to ensure that they are provided with all necessary medical care, protected from torture and other ill-treatment and given immediate access to their families and lawyer of their choice;
\n Asking for clarification of Ghassan Mustafa Ma’lul and Ahmad Mustafa Ma’lul’s legal status; <\/p>\n

Calling on the authorities to set up a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the reports of torture or other ill-treatment of both men and to bring anyone responsible for abuses to justice. <\/p>\n

Ensure that no statements obtained as a result of torture or other ill-treatment are used as evidence in trial proceedings, except as evidence against a person accused of torture or other ill-treatment; <\/p>\n

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 15 JUNE 2012<\/strong> TO<\/strong> :<\/strong><\/p>\n

President
\n Bashar al-Assad
\n Presidential Palace, al-Rashid Street
\n Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
\n Fax: +963 11 332 3410 (keep trying)
\n Salutation: Your Excellency <\/strong><\/p>\n

Minister of Interior
\n His Excellency Major General Mohamad Ibrahim al-Shaar, Ministry of Interior, ‘Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar Street
\n Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
\n Fax: +963 11 211 9578 (keep trying)
\n Salutation: Your Excellency <\/strong><\/p>\n

Minister of Foreign Affairs
\n Walid al-Mu’allim
\n Ministry of Foreign Affairs
\n al-Rashid Street
\n Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
\n Fax: +963 11 214 6253 (keep trying)
\n Salutation: Your Excellency<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. <\/p>\n

URGENT ACTION <\/strong><\/p>\n

BROTHERS HELD INCOMMUNICADO FOR MONTHS<\/p>\n

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION<\/strong>
\n According to Syria’s news agency SANA, Saria Hassoun, a son of Syria’s Grand Mufti,.was shot and killed on 2 October 2011 along with a history professor from Aleppo University. In their video confession, the brothers claimed they were paid 50,000 Syrian Pounds (approximately \u00a3530) each for intercepting and shooting Saria Hassoun’s car, along with at least eight other men. Prior to this, on 16 December 2011, SANA reported that a man named as Mohammad Deib Jamal Shaaban claimed to have been told by a Mohammad Mouaiad al-Tahan that he had killed Saria Hassoun and that his cousin had then killed the professor. Mohammad Mouaiad al-Tahan is not among the names given by Ghassan Mostafa Ma’alul and Ahmad Mostafa Ma’alul.as members of the group responsible for the killing. It is unclear whether an investigation was opened into the accusations against Mohammad Mouajad al-Tahan in December. The video of their “confession” can be found here:
\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y5js83o_4IE<\/a> . <\/p>\n