With reference to the appeal made by SHRC on the 2/8/2006 concerning the university student Samer Abdul Fattah Kawkah (23 years- Rural Damascus); SHRC has learnt from an informed source that the mentioned student who is being currently held in the Palestine Branch for Military Interrogation has been diagnosed with a Nerve disorder that caused numbness in his feet as a result of the severe torture and ill conditions in the prison. The prison staffs however, have neither allowed him to be treated nor have they allowed any medication to be given to him.

Whilst the detained student Samer Kawkah is suffering from declining health, and has suffered from the loss of sight in one eye before entering prison, the prison administration are completely ignoring his situation.
SHRC requests the Syrian Authorities to either offer treatment to Samer Kawkah or allow his family to be able to pass him medication. SHRC also requests an end to his torture, humiliating treatment, to immediately release him and stop all arbitrary arrests. If Samer Kawkah has indeed accused with any offence then he should be transferred to a fair court whilst enjoying his freedom and his right to self defence.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
21/2/2007