Middle East News
Syrian rights group calls for release of prisoners of conscience
Jun 24, 2008, 17:21 GMT
Damascus - The non-governmental organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Tuesday urged the country's authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience in Syria, including the members of a pro-democracy group recently arrested for undermining the state.
In a statement, the Observatory also called for an end to arbitrary arrests and detention in Syria.
The statement came after the Court of Cassation in Damascus rejected an appeal by the president of the National Council of Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change, Feda'a al-Hourani, and other members of her group arrested with her.
The detainees - accused of 'spreading false information, thus damaging the public interest and national sentiments' - will go on trial before the criminal court in Damascus.
They are also accused of being members in a secret society that 'aims to change the political and economic entity, instil the spirit of discrimination and undermine the prestige of the state,' according to the statement.
The human rights group said the Syrian security authorities launched a campaign of arrests against members of the National Council in December last year.
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