Media Commentary on the Occasion of “Right to Return Conference”… the Syrian Authorities should allow Syrian Exiles to return to their Homeland

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) spokesman has commented on the “Right to return” Palestinian conference which is being held in Damascus with the support of the Syrian Authorities, saying, “the right of return to the homeland is a holy right for all. However, by allowed the Palestinians to hold this conference- and it is indeed their right- the Syrian Authorities have contradicted themselves and exposed the oppression at the heart of their regime. For it is a regime that has forced tens of thousands of Syrians into permanent exile for more than thirty years, resulting in first, second and third generations living in foreign land, unable to return to their Syrian home. And whosoever dares to speak out about dialogue and return to Syria finds himself accused of Law 49/1980 and sentenced to death via the oppressive and terrifying machine of exceptional state supreme security court SSSC.”

The spokesman called upon those attending the “Right to Return” conference, telling them to remember this painful truth which the Syrian Authorities insist on practicing, confirming the regime’s exploitative and exhaustive nature in hosting such conferences.

The spokesman concluded by calling upon the Syrian Authorities to, “Allow all those who have been permanently exiled to return to their homeland without risking interrogation, torture, or arrest and detainment based on law 49/1980. Only then will its role in hosting the Palestinian Conference and any similar conferences be a step forward in the right direction in promoting and defending justice.”
Syrian Human Rights Committee
23/11/2008