Call to reveal the fate of Media Activist Fatima Sa’ad (Farah al-Rayyis)

A number of sources in the Syrian Capital Damascus have reported that the media activist Fatima Khalid Sa’ad (Known within the media world as Farah al-Rayyis) was killed as a result of the intense torture she was subjected to in a security branch in Damascus.

Media Activist Fatima Sa’ad (22 years) was arrested with her father and brother from her home in Lattakia on the Syrian coast on 28/6/2012. Her father and brother were released the following day, but she was kept detained. Many informed sources have reported her being subjected to intense torture to the extent that she was transferred to hospital at one point. On 17/7/2012 she was transferred to the state security branch for interrogation due to her media activism. It was there that the authorities discovered that she had owned a digital camera.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) calls for the fate of Fatima Sa’ad to be immediately revealed, and that she is immediately released if still alive. SHRC also calls for the circumstances surrounding her death to be revealed, that her body is handed to her family, and that independent investigators are allowed to investigate into her death and take the necessary measures against the perpetrators.

In addition, SHRC strongly condemns all forms of torture and degrading treatment which is practised by the Syrian Intelligence and security forces. SHRC calls upon the international community to condemn these practises, make a stand against them and stop them from happening, as well as bring all perpetrators to court.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
29/10/2012