The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) udtrykker i en pressemeddelelse deres stærke bekymringer over sikkerhedsstyrkernes stigende antal brud på menneskerettighederne overfor fredelige civile demonstranter i Syrien.
Mindst 200 er blevet dræbt og over 700 har været vilkårligt tilbageholdt af sikkerhedsstyrkerne i løbet af de fire ugers uro skriver EMHRN.
Copenhagen – 15 April 2011 [EMHRN]: Since Friday 8 April and the organization of peaceful protests in several cities on the eastern coast of the country, the situation has been dramatically deteriorating. Security forces and the “Shahiba” (pro-regime armed gangs) have been patrolling in the city of Banyias, reportedly randomly shooting at civilians and conducting houses raids. On 9 April, military forces widely deployed in the area as military tanks and armored vehicles surrounded the city. It was reported that clashes between members of the security forces and armed groups lead to a number of casualties among both civilians and army forces, but the details of the events remain unclear. On Tuesday 12 April, security forces conducted mass arbitrary arrests on all men aged more than 14 in Al Bayda village (located 10 km South of Baniyas), who were severely beaten by “Shahibas” and security forces during a collective punishment before being released.
The EMHRN is particularly alarmed by evidence of systematic ill treatment and torture perpetrated against children in Baniyas and Al Bayda, as well as in Deraa, as well as reports stating that security services prevented injured civilians from accessing hospitals and opened fire at ambulances trying to rescue injured protesters.
In most cases, the Syrian authorities have sought to hinder access to information on these events by closing down all means of communications and electricity. Protestor and human rights activists were abducted for covering the events or being in relation with foreign media. The state controlled media are also systematically trying to undermine the credibility of the protestors, by notably accusing them of partaking international conspiracy.
Despite the violence of the repression, the EMHRN salutes the bravery of a peaceful movement that is still spreading in and around major Syrian cities as well as in smaller towns and villages, including in the North, where a majority of the Kurdish community is settled.
The EMHRN calls upon the Syrian government to
• immediately and unconditionally free all persons arbitrarily detained for their participation in public protests
• put an end to acts of torture and ill treatment on detained persons
• create an independent investigation committee with the involvement of Syrian human rights groups
• abolish the law on the state of emergency while adopting necessary reforms to ensure Rule of law and respect of international human rights standards
The EMHRN also calls upon the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session to discuss appropriate measures to be taken in order to protect the Syrian people from further violations of their fundamental rights.
Whereas calls for peaceful demonstrations for Friday 15 April 2011 have been issued in the country, the EMHRN urges the Syrian authorities to refrain from using of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. It reminds that the Syrian government is internationally responsible for all acts committed against unarmed civilians by security forces under its jurisdiction.
More information:
Communications Officer, Henriette Irminger Sonne: +45 30828337
