The Exceptional Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) issued today very harsh sentences against Islamic detainees. SSSC issued terms of 15 year imprisonment against Ibrahim al-Yussef and Marwan Zain al-abidin charged with affiliation to a secret organisation that aims to change the economic and social structure of the state pursuant to article 306 of the Syrian penal code.

The court also issued unjust sentences against an Islamic group from Douma in Rural Damascus whose individuals were arrested in November 2004. The sentences were passed in accordance with the aforementioned article:
Ten years imprisonment against Mohammed Jameel Samaque and Mustafa Ka'akeh.
Seven years imprisonment against Jihad Shamma, Husam Abdullah, Mohammed Muhsen and Yaser Beswani.
Four years against Mamdouh Rishoo.

The court issued similar unfair sentences according to the same article against four university students from Lattakia:
Ten years imprisonment against Nadeem Baloushi (Mechanical engineering student) and Wasim Afour (Maritime Engineering Student)
Seven years imprisonment against Husam Heliwah (Maritime Engineering Student) and Abdul Ra'oof Sino (English literature student).

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) expresses utmost concern at the harsh and escalating trend taken by SSSC, and unequivocally condemns the aforementioned sentences. SHRC requests the repeal of the sentences, the abolition of SSSC and the termination of arrests based on the expression of opinion or peaceful political activities.

SHRC would like to bring to the attention of all activists of Human Rights and political groups, that the sentences being issued in Syria, which have reached the pinnacle of harshness and severity, seem to be leading to a new season of severe repression and tyranny, whose similarities bring back memories of the black and dark days of the regime's actions in the 80's.

SHRC calls upon the supporters of human rights and democracy to stand against these unlawful sentences and the severe path the Syrian Authorities have decided to pursue against Syrian citizens.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
14/1/2007