Intelligence’s methods during the Syrian Uprising

Witnesses have informed the SHRC that the security and intelligence forces are currently arbitrarily detaining people on the streets and are searching their mobile phones. If any footage of the protests is found on their phones the owners are immediately detained and if not, they are beaten and then released. There is often a bus or coach (with covered windows) at these places in which the detainees are kept till security patrols collect them. An eye witness has confirmed that in Homs, this coach is parked in front of the Al-Amaliyya pharmacy.

Witnesses have also reported that members of the Ba’ath party disperse themselves amongst mosques, especially in Friday prayers to act as spies and to deal with any calls for protests by chanting pro-government slogans. They also gather around certain individuals and beat them, arrest them and hand them in to the intelligence services outside of the mosques.
The SHRC views such acts as repressive measures which violate human rights regarding freedom of privacy and freedom of expression. Such acts also contradict the authorities’ decision to end the state of emergency yesterday. The SHRC encourages citizens to call for their complete rights as silence will only stand in the way of their freedom. It also demands the Syrian authorities to put an end to such should repressive procedures and to respect the citizens’ privacy and right to express their opinions with no restrictions.

Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC)
28/3/2011