On 21 August 2013, human rights defenders, Mazen Darwish, Hussein Ghareer, Hani Al-Zitani, Mansour Al-Omari, and Abd Al-Rahman Hamada, appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Damascus on alleged terrorism charges brought against them by the Syrian Government’s Air Force Intelligence. All are members of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), which was instrumental in reporting on freedom of the press, and documenting human rights violations in Syria.

However, the hearing did not proceed as planned due to the fact that there is to be a change in judges presiding over the case. The hearing has been rescheduled for 2 October 2013 when the Court will decide whether to proceed with the case against the human rights activists.

The five defenders were accused in February 2013 of a number of charges and if convicted they may face up to 15 years in prison. The charges include publishing terrorist acts; publishing studies on the human rights situation in the country; and documenting names of those detained, disappeared, and killed in the context of the Syrian unrest.

The human rights defenders were arrested on 16 February 2012 and were detained by Syria’s Air Force Intelligence. They were initially held in incommunicado detention for several months and it is reported that all five were subjected to on-going torture and ill-treatment. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) issued an appeal on the case of Mazen Darwish, head of the SCM, on 6 August 2012 (https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/212). Mazen Darwish, Hussein Ghareer and Hani Al-Zitani remain in detention while Mansour Al-Omari and Abd Al-Rahman Hamada were conditionally released in February 2013.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) expresses concern that the authorities are using anti-terrorist legislation to target and silence human rights defenders and curtail their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. The GCHR expresses further concern for the physical and psychological integrity of Mazen Darwish, Hussein Ghareer, and Hani Al-Zitani while they remain in detention and believes that they are being detained as a direct result of their peaceful human rights activities.

The GCHR urges the authorities in Syria to: 

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mazen Darwish, Hussein Ghareer, and Hani Al-Zitani, and drop the charges against the five defenders;
2. Guarantee the physical and psychological safety and integrity of Mazen Darwish, Hussein Ghareer and Hani Al-Zitani while they remain in detention;
3. Ensure that anti terrorism legislation is not used as a means of targeting human rights defenders and impeding their work in defending and promoting human rights in Syria;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

 The GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 6 (b and c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (b) As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters”, and to Article 12 (1 and 2): “(1) Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. (2) The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”