On the 13/11/2006, the Syrian Authorities released Mr. Murad Mashouq al-Khaznawi, hours after he was arrested on the Syrian-Jordanian borders.

An informed source told the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) that the Syrian Authorities does not wish to escalate with the sons of the late Sheikh Mashouq because they are the main suspect of his abduction and assasination in May 2005, and this issue has begun to worry the Syrian Authorities due to the increasing domestic and foreign pressure, demanding to reveal what happened to the Sheikh.

The source also said that the Syrian Authorities arrested Murad to check and reassure that he was not going to join his brother Murshid, who is currently outside the country, and who recently has strongly accused the Syrian Authorities of murdering his father.

SHRC once again requests the Syrian Authorities to form an independent committee to investigate and reveal the truths of the abduction and murder of Sheikh al-Khaznawi, and requests an end to all despotic and arbitrary arrests carried out by the Syrian Security.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
18/11/2006