The exceptional Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) in Damascus issued a death sentence pursuant to Article 49/1980 against Mr. Mahmud Mohammed Summak (62 years) on Sunday 11/2/2007. The sentence was then reduced to 12 years imprisonment including hard labour, confinement and stripping him of his civil rights. Article 49/1980 condemns to death mere affiliation to Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr. Mahmud Summak from Ariha in Idlib Province fled Syria to Yemen in 1981, where he worked and lived with his family. He returned to Syria on 12/4/2005 after receiving assurances of amnesty, but was arrested upon arriving in Syria, subjected to severe torture, then moved to Sednaya prison and tried at court.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) is aware that the Syrian authorities are persistently issuing unjust and despotic sentences against Syrian citizens pursuant to inhumane articles passed hastily to legalise the crimes of killing committed by the regime and to legalise prolonged and indefinite periods of imprisonment which are both prohibited by the Syrian constitution and the international conventions. SHRC also considers the statements made by Syrian officials or media advisors regarding this article as lacking transparency and credibility, aiming primarily to mislead the public and the international community despite the fact that each incident of unfair and despotic sentences issued on Syrian citizens is clear in its particulars and circumstances.

SHRC calls upon the Syrian president Bashar al-Asad to repeal the inhumane Article 49/1980 and to release all prisoners sentenced thereof including Mr. Mahmud Summak who was obliged to live in exile for 24 years, but when he returned due to official assurances he was arrested and cast in prison for 12 years. In addition, he was subjected to torture, hard labour, and degrading treatment.

SHRC also appeals to all human rights advocates to confront this escalating wave of harsh sentences against prisoners of conscience, opinion and political detainees in Syria.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
14/02/2007