Official news sources have revealed that the occupying American forces in Iraq have arrested 11 Syrian drivers that work on lorries which transport wheat and grain to Iraq. The reason of their arrests is unknown, although it seems to be part of an arrest operation which the American forces had announced previously, which includes people of other nationalities in the Iraqi city of al-Ramadi.

SHRC strongly condemns the wave of arrests carried out by the American forces in Iraq against the Syrians residing in Iraq, and requests that not only the drivers, but all Syrians in the American and Iraqi prisons are immediately released. SHRC also calls upon the Syrian regime to take responsibility for the safety of its citizens living in Iraq and for those who have to travel there for their work. In addition, SHRC calls upon all human rights organisations to work for the release of the Syrian prisoners in Iraq and to pressure the American forces and Iraqi government to stop acting in an unacceptable manner.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee
7/2/2006