SHRC received yesterday urgent information about the death of the Syrian citizen “ Hussein Dawood” in custody under torture in the Damascus based security interrogation centre of “Palestine Branch”.

Syrian security forces arrested Mr. Dawood, charged with affiliation to the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (DUP), upon his arrival in Damascus International Airport on 10/12/2000, after being deported from Germany who turned down his asylum application lodged in 1995 . 

It is worth mentioning in this context that the German authorities applied on his behalf to the Syrian embassy in Germany to obtain a passport, and Mr. Dawood was granted a travel document valid solely to travel to Syria. He was coercively deported from Dusseldorf airport on board a flight heading to Damascus on 10/12/2000.

Being charged with opposing the Syrian ruling regime, he was subject to severe torture at “Palestine interrogation branch” to give confessions about DUP members and leadership abroad. A number of Syrian citizens arrested last March in Al-Haskah province were brought before him to confirm whether they are members of DUP, and if any of them were linked to him while staying abroad. 

Last month, confirmed reports talked about Mr. Dawood’s deteriorating health. He was in urgent need of treatment and medication. Three days ago, news said that he died as a result to mistreatment, torture and lack of medication. The news, however, has not yet been confirmed by “Palestine branch” sources. No other security, civil or official sources have disclosed any information about Mr. Dawood’s current condition. 

Mr. Hussein Dawood was born in Amoda town of Al-Hasakah province, north east Syria in 1971. He was single in his early thirties. 

SHRC calls on the Syrian government: 

1. To conduct an immediate investigation and disclose the current condition of Hussein Dawood. If alive, to immediately discharge him, otherwise to bring him before a just and fair court where he has the full access to defend himself according to the criteria and standards guaranteed by both the Syrian constitution and international conventions. 

2. To stop security and intelligence corpses practicing tortures against detainees, to hold all those practicing humiliating methods against detainees responsible, to bring them before the court, and to abolish all secret legislations and secret laws that facilitate torture in prisons and interrogation centers. 

SHRC appeals to all juristic and human rights organizations: 

1. To stand with us until the destiny of Mr. Hussein Dawood and all other detainees in Syrian prisons are revealed. 

2. To act to abolish torture, which is practiced on a large scale by the numerous Syrian security and intelligence corpses.