The exceptional State Supreme Security Court (SSSC) issued unjust sentences on four detainees on Sunday 20/5/2007. They include:
1- Fouad al-Shughri: was sentenced to death according to law 49/1980 (which sentences to death mere membership of the Muslim Brotherhood). The sentence was then reduced to 12 years in prison with labour, in addition to being stripped of his civil rights.
2-  Faris Naqoor: was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment according to article 156 of the Military criminal Law. He was sentenced because he crossed borderline to work with his relatives in the occupied Golan Hieghts.
3- Ammar Abdullah: was sentenced to prison for three years according to article 207 of the Penal code. He was accused of igniting sectarian rifts.
4- Mohammed Ali al-Sheikh: was sentenced to prison for three years according to article 207 of the Penal Code. He was also accused of igniting sectarian rifts.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) considers the issued sentences as unjust. They have no legal reference other than an exceptional court which lies in the authority of the Syrian Security forces, issuing sentences based on the emergency laws which have ruling over Syria for more than 44 years. In addition, these laws are passed under the increasing hostile authoritative atmosphere of the Intelligence, pressurizing citizens to steer away from practicing their rights of freedom of speech and expression and peaceful assembly and forming political parties.

Therefore, SHRC calls for the unjust sentences to be dropped and for the four detainees to be released, and all other prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in Syrian prisons. SHRC also calls upon the Syrian Authorities to put an end to its practice of arbitrarily arresting innocent citizens, and to allow for all general freedoms endorsed by the constitution and international conventions to be practised in Syria.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
21/5/2007