Following the decision made by the Syrian Authorities to sack Ragheda Rifqi Issa (wife of human Rights activist Anwar al-Bunni) from her job, the SHRC Media Spokesman has described these actions as “illegal, inhumane, and full of hatred and feelings of revenge towards the families of activists.”

The Media Spokesman asked why these measures took place in the first place, saying: “Has Ragheda committed a fault due to being the wife of an activist who decided to practise his right to freedom of speech in a peaceful manner?”

The Media spokesman also brought attention to the fact that these mannerisms are not new to the repressive practises of the Syrian Security, and that there exists tens of thousands of Syrian Citizens who have been sacked from their jobs, forbidden of their civil rights and had their possessions and homes confiscated. In addition, their families have been materially and mentally pressurized, and humiliated, being forced to live in stifling and difficult circumstances.
On behalf of the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC), the Media Spokesman condemned the measurements taken by the Syrian Authorities on Anwar al-Bunni’s family, and other Syrian families as he concluded his commentary. He called upon the Syrian Authorities to “put an immediate end to such measurements that are totally erroneous in the light of the law and completely inhumane; to return Anwar al-Bunni's wife to her work, and to rightfully return the rights which families of Syrian activists had been stripped of. Families that have suffered and been pressurised by Syrian Authorities' Apparatus due to the opposition of some their members to Syrian policies, and practising their rights of free speech and peaceful opposition."

Syrian Human Rights Committee
7/6/2007

Background:

Decision no. 2060
Prime Minister
Pursuant to the articles of principal labour law, no. 50/2004, and pursuant to the address of the Ministry of Transport no. 30 dated 13/5/2007, and pursuant to the proposal of the committee formed according to article 137, law 50/2004, the following resolution was passed:
1- To sack Mrs. Ragheda Issa from her work at the General Corporation of Road Transport.
2- All rights of the abovementioned to be settled, according to the valid laws and regulations.
Article 3: This resolution is to be told to parties concerned for execution.
Damascus 13/5/207
Prime Minister
Engineer, Mohammed Naji al-Otri

Notes on the Day of Sacking incident

1- Numerous employees in the General Corporation for Road Transport noticed Syrian Security presence in the workplace on the morning of 13/5/2007. They requested Mrs. Ragheda Issa's file, which led to the repressive resolution passed to sack her from her work by the Ministry of Transport and the Prime Minister on the same day, as shown above. No act of sacking has been performed with such speed before as this one.
2- A group of lawyers volunteered to present an appeal against this resolution.
3- Upon being asked for the reason of the resolution, one of the top officials of the corporation was reported to have said, "It is enough that she is the wife of Anwar al-Bunni."