The Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) in Damascus has issued unfair sentences against a group of Islamist detainees suspected of being affiliated the Salafi’ current.

On Wednesday 14/11/2006 the SSSC sentenced Ahmed Ali Haranieh, Hussain Jumuah Othman, Samir Abu al-Khair, Mohammad Abdul-Hafeez Kilani, Mohammad Izzidein, Mohammad Ali Haranieh and Na’eem Marwa to six years in prison. Khalid Jumuah Abdul-Aaal, Khalid Hamami and Mohammad Ahmed As’ad were also sentenced to seven years in prison, whilst Ahmed Omar Ainain was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) had previously issued a number of press releases concerning the detainment of this group (from the town of al-Otaiba in rural Damascus) since they were arrested, on 23/4/2004.

It comes as no surprise that the Syrian Security accuse  the group of belonging to salafi tendencies, as it is currently running a ruthless campaign against Salafi’s and all Islamist groups. In an attempt to criminalise those who are Salafi and subsequently arrest them and sentence them harshly, the Syrian Authorities describe Salafi’s as being “Wahabi’s” and extremists, in order to dissuade Syrian citizens from following or adopting any of their views with regard to matters of jurisprudence and worship.

Informed sources have also informed SHRC that the above-mentioned have been subjected to extreme torture during periods of interrogation and during their court cases which lasted for more than a years and a half.

SHRC strongly condemns the verdicts issued upon the above-mentioned and views them as being unfair and unlawful. SHRC calls upon the Syrian Authorities to immediately release the detainees and put an end to criminalising citizens simply due to the sects and ideologies they follow and believe in, as well as involving themselves in the lives of normal individuals. SHRC calls for an end to the suppression of religious, individual and general freedoms and an end to all arbitrary arrests and unfair sentences.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
15/11/2006