The Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) has resumed issuing unjust sentences only a week after the sham referendum for presidency in Syria. This confirms the continuation of despotism which derives its authority from the state of emergency, martial laws and exceptional courts. Today, (3/6/2007), the SSSC issued the following sentences:

Detainee Abdul Jabbar Allawi (35 years, Saraqib/Idlib) was sentenced to death pursuant to Article 49/1980 accused of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. His sentence was then reduced to 12 years in prison with hard labour, confinement, being stripped of civil rights and having to pay a fine. SHRC had documented his situation previously, reporting that Abdul Jabbar left Syria with his family in 1982 at ten years of age. Thereafter, he lived in Iraq until he returned to Syria on the 13/3/2003, after being given a formal travel document from the Syrian Embassy in Baghdad. He was however, arrested on the borders and detained in Sednaya Military Prison where he was subjected to extreme torture. Today he was harshly sentenced by the SSSC simply due to the Syrian Authorities demand for his father. 

The SSSC also sentenced the two Islamists: Ahmed Sheikho and Faisal Ballani to five years imprisonment. They were accused of being members of a secret organisation that aims to change the economic and social structure of the state, and weakening national morale.

The Kurdish citizen Ziad Ismail was also sentenced to three years imprisonment.

SHRC takes note that the issuing of such sentences only after a week of the presidential referendum is a clear signal of the refusal of the regime of a better human rights situation or improved general liberties in Syria. The Authorities continue to arbitrarily arrest citizens, try them in exceptional unfair courts and issue harsh sentences against them, charging them with crimes they have never committed.

SHRC requests the Syrian Authorities to abolish SSSC, and release the four abovementioned detainees and all other detainees sentenced by exceptional, military or non-independent courts; and to rely solely on fair courts free from the executive authorities’ influence or the dominance of Security and Intelligence Apparatus.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
3/6/2007