Damascus Authorities Repress Basic Freedoms
French President Nicolas Sarkozy should use his visit to Syria on September 3 and 4, 2008, to raise human rights concerns with President Bashar al-Asad, Human Rights Watch said today. In particular, Sarkozy should urge Asad to release activists detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. He should also ask Asad to make public all information on the violent suppression of a riot at Sednaya prison in July 2008....
The Syrian government should immediately release three women detained by state authorities since July 31, 2008, unless they have evidence that these women have committed criminal offenses and intend to try them for these, Human Rights Watch said today....
Government Should Release All Jailed for Peaceful Dissent
Syria’s release of prominent activist `Aref Dalila on August 7, 2008, after seven years in detention, is welcome, but the government should also free dozens more detainees being held for nonviolent political activities, Human Rights Watch said today....
Two Weeks After Shootings, Still No Official Information on Deaths or Injuries
The Syrian government should order an independent investigation into the deadly shooting of inmates by military police at Sednaya prison two weeks ago and make the findings public, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also called on the authorities to immediately make public the names of those killed or injured in the incident....
Engagement With Damascus Should Include Human Rights
Western countries looking to increase engagement with Syria should know that Syrian authorities continue to arrest, try, and harass political and human rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today. In May 2008, Syrian authorities detained a political writer, began the trial of two activists, and restricted the travel of at least seven others. Amidst increasing calls in Western countries to increase engagement with Syria, Human Rights Watch urged that an improvement in the treatment of these activists be at the heart of any future talks with the Syrian authorities....
The Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa should raise the case of detained political and human rights activists in his meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad during the Arab Summit in Damascus on March 29-30, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released today....
Hold Accountable Those Responsible for Unlawful Killings
Syrian authorities should seek an independent investigation into the March 20 shootings by security forces that left three Kurds dead and at least five wounded at a New Year’s celebration, Human Rights Watch said today. The circumstances of the shootings raise concerns that state security forces used unnecessary lethal force in violation of international law....
Authorities Should Release All 12, and Investigate Allegations of Physical Abuse
The Syrian government has arbitrarily detained at least 12 activists who attended a meeting of opposition groups in December, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should immediately release the detained activists, dismiss all charges against them, and promptly investigate credible allegations that State Security officials beat at least eight of the activists during interrogation....
Fida’ al-Hurani and `Ali al-Abdallah Detained in Last 24 hours
Syria should immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Ahmad Tohme, Jabr al-Shoufi, Akram al-Bunni, Dr. Fida’ al-Hurani, and `Ali al-Abdallah from detention, Human Rights Watch said today. Authorities detained the five political activists following a meeting of opposition groups in Damascus last week....
from The Houston ChronicleOne of 6 will go to school so family can stay in SyriaBy HANNAH ALLAMMcClatchy-Tribune DAMASCUS, SYRIA — The Zuhairy family lives in a freezing one-room apartment in Jaramana, a growing Iraqi refugee enclave in Damascus. There's no bathroom door, no hot water, no furniture, no heat and no privacy.Seven people sleep and eat in the same room, where a battered television set provides the only entertainment.The mother, who goes by the nickname Umm Sundus, has fought to keep her family fed since her husband, a goldsmith, was killed in Iraq last year and the rest of the family fled here.Rent is $150 a month, but the family's main income is $100 a month, wired from a relative in Australia, and Umm Sundus is always behind on bills. There's no way of educating so many...
Several recent reports review the situation of Iraqi refugees generally and in neighboring countries:
General: "Iraq: Growing Needs Amid Continuing Displacement," Forced Migration Review, no. 29 (Nov. 2007) [text]
Egypt: "Iraqi Refugees in Egypt," Forced Migration Review, no. 29 (Nov. 2007) [text]
Jordan: Study of Iraqis in Jordan (Fafo, Nov. 2007) [access]
Lebanon: Rot Here or Die There:...
Authorities Should Release Faeq al-Mir at Once
The Syrian government should immediately free Faeq al-Mir, a leader of the leftist People’s Democratic Party, and dismiss the politically motivated charges against him, Human Rights Watch said today....
Security Services Regularly Arrest and Harass Activists
Syrian authorities should stop restricting the freedom of human rights activists to express their views and to associate as a group, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The country’s security services regularly harass the activists by arresting them and preventing them from meeting or traveling....
Two Internet Activists Held Incommunicado, May Be ‘Disappeared’
Syria should immediately release writers and activists detained solely for expressing their opinions or reporting information online, Human Rights Watch said today. Syrian authorities have held two men in incommunicado detention since June for expressing online views that are critical of the Syrian government. Authorities have refused to disclose the whereabouts of the detained men to their families. On September 23, the Supreme State Security Court sentenced a third man to two years in prison for posting online comments that displeased the authorities....
Man Missing One Month After Responding to Military Intelligence Summons
The Syrian authorities should reveal the fate of Ali al-Barazi, a translator who has been missing for the past month after being summoned by Military Intelligence, Human Rights Watch said today....
Human Trafficking: A Strategic Framework Could Help Enhance the Interagency Collaboration Needed to Effectively Combat Trafficking Crimes (GAO, July 2007) [text; posted on beSpacific.com]
Human Trafficking: Monitoring and Evaluation of International Projects Are Limited, but Experts Suggest Improvements (GAO, July 2007) [text; posted on beSpacific.com]
Listening to Youth: The Experiences of...
In
Youth,
Uganda,
united kingdom,
children,
humanitarian assistance,
human trafficking,
peace efforts,
Somalis,
international protection,
reproductive health,
Iraqis,
Syria
Government Crackdown Evident in Growing List of Convictions
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should exonerate four political activists sentenced to prison on May 13 for signing a declaration calling for improved Lebanese-Syrian relations, Human Rights Watch said today....
The Syrian National Agricultural Policy Center (NAPC) recently published the Syrian Agricultural Database 2006 in CD-ROM and Online formats, and in both Arabic and English.
Now in its fifth year the NAPC’s production of the SADB 2006 demonstrates a commitment to accurate, clear, accessible and user-friendly statistics in agriculture. Via the Internet or the distributed CD-ROM, users can access...
US and Other Countries Should Help Resettle Refugees
Syria should immediately reopen its border to Iraqi Palestinian refugees fleeing deadly attacks against their community, Human Rights Watch said today....
Syrian authorities have amplified their crackdown against civil society activists, arbitrarily restricting several of them from leaving the country, Human Rights Watch said today....
12 Held for Declaration on Relations with Lebanon
Syria should immediately release all activists arbitrarily detained for signing a petition calling for improved Syrian-Lebanese relations, Human Rights Watch said today. Those detained include prominent writer Michel Kilo and human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni....
Other Governments Should Also Admit Refugees
Middle East governments should follow Syria’s example in accepting refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Iraq, Human Rights Watch said today. The Syrian government this week admitted 244 Palestinian refugees who had been stranded at the Jordanian border, as well as another group of around 40 who fled to Syria directly from Baghdad....
The government of President Bashar al-Asad must put an end to the recent wave of arrests of activists in Syria, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released today....
Syrian authorities escalated a crackdown on the country’s human rights activists by arresting four of them over the past week, Human Rights Watch said today. As of Friday evening Damascus time, only one had been released....
The Syrian government should immediately release from detention a spokesman for the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria, Dr Ammar Qurabi, Human Rights Watch said today....