With reference to the appeal issued by the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) on 22/4/2009, an informed source in the Syrian capital Damascus has reported that the youth Yasir Mohammed Aswad was released on 5/8/2009. Upon his release, he was immediately transported to perform the compulsory military duty.
SHRC, whilst viewing this release optimistically, hopes that this positive step will be followed by the release of other prisoners who are sons of forced exiles, and allow all other forced exiles to return to their country without being arrested or interrogated, and to put an end to arbitrary arrests.
Syrian Human Rights Committee
5/8/2009

Background:
The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) has learnt from a friend of the youth Mohammed Yaser Aswad, who was born in Libya and lives in Jordan, that he suddenly disappeared from his place of work under vague circumstances on 28th March 2009. Two days following his appearance, 30th March 2009, it was known that he was in the city of Aleppo (north Syria). It was said later that he moved to Aleppo to sort out the issue of the compulsory military duty.
During his stay in Aleppo he was summoned by the military intelligence several times, until on 9 April he was called and did not return. Since then his news has been completely cut off and nobody knows of the place in which he is being detained.
Mohammed Yaser Aswad (26 years), a Syrian, was born and has always lived outside of Syria. He completed his studies in Computer Science and works in Amman where his family lives. His father, Mohammed Aswad, who left Syria in the 1980s passed away last year. Mohammed Yaser has not visited Syria previously and has neither taken part in any activities nor is he part of the opposition, except that he is the son of his deceased father.