On Wednesday 5/9/2006, the activist and member of Jamal Atassi forum Muhammad Mahfooz was released on bail (1000 SP) and he will be tried whilst he is free. Mr. Muhammad Mahfooz is accused of signing the Damascus-Beirut Declaration.

In the meantime, Michelle Kilo, Anwar al-Bunni, Mahmoud Issa, Khalil Hasan and Suleiman al-Shamar, who were all arrested in the first half of May 2006 remain in prison due to signing the abovementioned declaration. The Damascus-Beirut Declaration called for Syria to have a balanced relationship with the neighbouring country of Lebanon.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) calls upon the Syrian Authorities to immediately release those detained due to signing the Damascus-Beirut Declaration, and to drop the accusations made against those released from prison. SHRC also calls upon the Syrian Security to stop all arbitrary arrests.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
6/9/2006