Mr. Hilal Ali, a British citizen, who disappeared in Syria since the 25th July 2000 remains in captivity by the Syrian Security Services. Syrian sources informed his London based lawyers SALFITI & CO. Solicitors that shortly after his arrest and after establishing his identity, the Syrian Security Services transferred Mr. Ali to the Palestine Branch which is responsible for the activities of the Palestinian organisations operating in Syria. 

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office informed his lawyers that the British Embassy in Syria had been in contact with the Syrian government regarding Mr. Ali’s disappearance. “We are unable to gain any further information about Mr. Ali from the Syrian government” an FCO stated. “The Syrian authorities remain silent after they had previously admitted that Mr. Ali had indeed been arrested and that they –the Syrians- would provide the British embassy with details of his arrest and his whereabouts. We are unable to go any further in this case. We have just hit a stonewall.” The FCO source added. 

Mr. Amjad Salfiti, from SALFITI & CO. Solicitors stated, “The disappearance of Mr. Hilal Ali comes to disprove the claim by Syrian authorities that they are opening up their system and trying to improve Syria’s bad human right’s record.” “we can not accept the British government’s claim that they have hit a stonewall and unable to do anything with this case.” Mr. Amjad Salfiti said. 

“The public and Mr. Ali’s family refuse this feeble justification for the government’s inability to afford any protection to a British national abroad. This contradicts the overwhelming reaction that bewitched the British government at all levels when other British citizens were arrested for terrorist and murder charges in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.” Mr. Salfiti added.

“We call on the Syrian government to release Mr. Hilal Ali and return him safe to his family. It is time they started to realise that human rights abuses will not go unnoticed or unreported and that the perpetrators should not go unpunished.” Mr. Salfiti claimed. “We also call on the British government to stop finding the excuses for its inability to show concern to the welfare of one of its nationals. It is time they insisted on applying their declared policies in dealing with rogue governments who insist on denying human rights to their nationals and others.” Concluded Mr. Salfiti. 

For further information please contact:

Mr. Amajd Salfiti or Adnan Al-Sabah
SALFITI & CO. Solicitors.
62 CAMDEN ROAD
LONDON NW1 9DR
TEL. 02074280880
FAX: 0207 428 99 46