The exceptional Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) resumed its session following the Easter Holidays by issuing further sentences against three Islamists, in addition to an elderly person exceeding 70 years of age.

The SSSC sentenced Anas Karah, Khalid Karah and Issa al-Abdullah to five years imprisonment (15/4/2007), charging them with attempts to change the economic and social structure of the state.

The court also sentenced elderly Mohammed Walid al-Kabeer al-Hasni son of Lutfi (arrested on 14/3/2006) to three years in prison, accusing him of spreading false news that serve to weaken the morale of the nation.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) confirms that the verdicts issued by the SSSC, a non-specialised court, are aimed primarily to oppress Syrian citizens who manage to peacefully express their viewpoints and creeds, in a continuous attempt to stifle freedom of expression in Syria.

SHRC calls upon the Syrian Authorities to repeal the sentences issued against the aforesaid detainees as well as all prisoners of conscience and political detainees, to abolish the exceptional SSSC which lacks constitutional and legal validity and to release oppressed liberties.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
16/4/2007