Lawyer Khalil Ma’touq, the uncle of the murdered Sami Ma’touq, has received a verbal resolution from the Syrian Defence Minister via the Military Attorney General to freeze the case against his nephew’s killers. Sami Ma’touq was killed with his friend Joni Sulaiman in the village of Al-Mushirfeh by a joint patrol of security and customs on 14/10/2008.

On this particular occasion, the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) has expressed its great disappointment at the resolution issued by the Defence Minister, General Hasan Turkmani to stop the case of the two victims. On behalf of SHRC, the media spokesman has said, “This resolution is the newest product of the Presidential Decree 69 (issued 30/9/2008) which confined the trails of security, police and customs elements to the headquarter of the army and armed forces.”

The spokesman also added, “SHRC considers the termination of the case as an obstruction to justice, protection and encouragement to the murderers, as well as legalising horrific violations of the rights of citizens to life without accountability or liability.”

The spokesman concluded his comments by calling upon the Syrian Authorities to review the case of the killing of Sami Ma’touq and Joni Sulaiman at a civil and independent court, to not interfere in legal and judicial affairs, and to stop all presidential decrees that bypass the law, its neutrality and independence, and the right of every citizen to life.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
25/2/2009