Syrian Lawyer Faces Prosecution for Defending Human Rights

Amnesty International Media Release
For Immediate Release
Monday, August 3, 2009


Syrian Lawyer Faces Prosecution for Defending Human Rights
Contact: AIUSA media office at 202.544.0200x302

A leading Syrian human rights lawyer was formally charged last Thursday in relation to his legitimate work in defending the rights of political prisoners in Syria. Amnesty International is calling for his immediate release.

Muhannad al-Hassani, who had regularly carried out observations of trials before the Supreme State Security Court, was arrested by Syrian State Security on 28 July and charged with "weakening national sentiments" and "spreading false news."

He was referred to the Justice Palace in Damascus on Thursday, where he was interrogated and formally charged in a closed session in which his lawyer was not allowed access. He could face up to 15 years in prison.

Muhannad al-Hassani had been interrogated on several occasions before the arrest, questioned for his defence of political detainees and for the work of his organization, The Syrian Human Rights Organization (SAWASIYAH).

SAWASIYAH monitors and publicizes human rights violations committed by the Syrian authorities. Muhannad al-Hassani is the Chair of the organization's Board of Directors.

Syrian authorities have previously prevented Muhannad al-Hassani and other human rights lawyers from travelling abroad in order to take part in human rights events and training seminars. This is a well-established pattern used by the Syrian authorities to harass and punish human rights defenders and to suppress political dissent.

"Amnesty International is concerned that Muhannad al-Hassani faces imprisonment because of his legitimate human rights work," said Malcolm Smart from Amnesty International. "Other people imprisoned solely for their human rights work include Anwar al-Bunni, a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Syria who is serving five years in prison for 'spreading false information harmful to the state'."

Anwar al-Bunni had made a statement to a Qatar-based newspaper in April 2006. In it, he said that the death in custody of Muhammad Shaher Haysa, a political detainee, had been caused by "ill-treatment possibly amounting to torture."

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