Sixteen months has already elapsed since Mr. Abdul Rahman Shaghouri was arrested for surfing sites with special interests to Syrian current affairs, downloading and distributing some news to friends.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Shaghouri has been transferred to Sednaya prison some while ago, following difficult times he had spent in “Palestine Branch” when he was subjected to a heavy dose of torture and mistreatment. His transfer means that the interrogation is over, and the State Supreme Security Court (SSSC) has announced a harsh sentence, a term of two years and a half in prison for his alleged distribution of fabricated news and falsehood that distort the image of the country and weaken the morale of the nation.

SHRC believes that the Syrian authorities are continuing their denial of the freedom of surfing the net, with the exception of limited and chosen useless sites. It also regards that those authorities are persisting on repressing the freedom of expression, and that they offer on a daily basis new evidences of the increase of oppressing the opinion of the others.

SHRC appeals to the Syrian people to address the Syrian president and the minister of Justice and the Interior to immediately release Mr. Abdul Rahman Shaghouri and to lift all bans imposed on the freedom of surfing the net and the freedom of expression.

Please address your letters to:

President Bashar al-Asad

President of Syrian Arab Republic

Presidential Palace

Al-Rasheed Street

Abu Rumanneh

Damascus

Syria

Fax: +963113323410

Maj. General Ali Haj Hammud

Minister of the Interior

Marjeh Circle

Damascus

Syria

Fax: +963112223428

Please send a copy of your appeals to the Syrian embassy of consulate in the country of your residence.