Syria - Political and Human Rights Activists Detainees in Syria (8/1/08)

Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS )

On December 12, 2007, (International Day for Human Rights), the State Security in Syria (General Security or al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah) conducted a campaign during which the Syrian authorities rounded up approximately forty persons in several cities in Syria. This new escalation of attacks on the Opposition and human rights activists in Syria comes as a response to the arrestees’ participation in the general political meeting called upon by the leadership of the Damascus Declaration. This meeting took place in Damascus at the first of December ,2007 and resulted in the election of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change.

Among those arrested:

1. Najaty Tayarah,
2. Usama Ashur,
3. Fawwaz Tillo,
4. Jabr Al-Shufi,
5. Bashir Al-Sadi,
6. Fawzi Hamadah,
7. Khalaf Al-Zarsur,
8. Faysal Azzawy,
9. Fuaad Iylya,
10. Radif Mustafa,
11. Zardasht Muhammad,
12. Pyar Rustum,
13. Hasan Zyno,
14. Ghazi, Qaddur,
15. Ahmad Taama,
16. Samir Nashshar,
17. Pier Rustum,
18. Kamel Abbas,
19. Nasr Said,
20. Fawwaz Al-hamis,
21. Suhail Al-Dakhil,
22. Mukhlis Shaqra,
23. Ghalib Amer,
24. Yusuf Sayasinah,
25. Muhammad Jabr Al-Masalimah,
26. Ali Al-Jihmany,
27. Ismail Umar,
28. Ismail Al-Hamud,
29. Khalaf Al-Jarbua,
30. Muhammad Zaki Al-Huaydi,
31. Muwaffak Nayrabuyah.

Each one was arrested in their respective cities.

On the following day, December 11, 2007, between 12 AM and 1 AM, the Syrian regime released:

1. Radif Mustafa,
2. Zardasht Muhammad,
3. Pyar Rustum,
4. Pier Rustum,
5. Kamel Abbas,
6. Nasr Said,
7. Fawwaz Al-hamis,
8. Suhail Al-Dakhil,
9. Mukhlis Shaqra,
10. Ghalib Amer,
11. Yusuf Sayasinah,
12. Muhammad Jabr Al-Masalimah,
13. Ali Al-Jihmany,
14. Ismail Umar,
15. Ismail Al-Hamud,
16. Khalaf Al-Jarbua,
17. Muhammad Zaki Al-Huaydi,
18. Najaty Tayyarah,
19. Muwaffak Nayrabuyah,
20. Usama Ashur,


- Meanwhile, the Syrian regime kept imprisoned the following:

Dr. Ahmad Taama (Dayr al-Zur),
Jabr Al-Shufi (Alswayda),
Additionally, the police transferred both Ahmad Taama (Dayr al-Zur) and Jabr Al-Shufi (Alswayda), to Damascus.

Following is some background information about several of those remaining in custody and the circumstances of their arrest, as it is available.

Dr. Ahmad Taama was born in Dayr al-Zur (1965) He is the father of four children. He has degree in dentistry. He was elected last month as a member in the Secretary of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change.

A Secret Police officer came to his office on the evening of December 9, 2007, and led him away. Since that date he has been held in detention by the Syrian Secret Police.

Jabr Al-Shufi was born in al-Suwayda (1947) He is the father of three children , He has a degree in Arabic literature. He worked in the education field for many years. He suffers from arthritis.

He was elected last month as a member in the general Secretary leadership of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change. A Secret Police officer came to his home around 5 pm on December 9, 2007, and led him away. Since that date he has been held in detention by the Syrian Secret Police.

- On December 11, 2007, the Syrian Secret Police requested Mrs. Fida Akram Hurani, M.D. to come to the offices of the State Security Intelligence in Hama, where she was arrested and remains in detention to this day.

Fida Akram Hurani was born in Damascus (1956) She has a family and a young son (Muhhammad Alyan.) She received her medical degree from the University of Baghdad with the specialization in OB/GYN. In 1982, she founded the Hurani Hospital in Hamma and she is its active president. She suffers from critical health conditions due to a stomach tumor. This condition forced her into a coma for 2 weeks in 1996, and she still suffers from its consequences.

On December 1st, 2007, she was elected the president of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change. She has published several articles concerning public affairs and its political, social, and cultural dimensions. She recently published a comparative study of the constitutional systems in Syria from the early 1950s to the 1970s.



- On December 12, 2007, around 9 am, Secret Police officers came to the home of Mr. Akram Al-Bunni and led him away after he promised his family a quick return. Since that date, he has been held in detention by the Syrian Secret Police.

Mr. Akram Al-Bunni was born in Hama (1956) Father of a daughter (lawyer), he was a political detainee of the Syrian Secret Police for more than seventeen years. He is a human rights activist . He is suffering from digestive system problems (ulcer and colon.) He had an angioplasty soon after his release from his detention. He was elected last month as member in the Secretary of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change.

- On December 17, 2007, the Syrian Secret Police arrested Dr. Waleed Al-Bunni, Dr. Muhammad Yaser Al-Ayty and the author Ali Al-Abdallah, from their respective homes in Damascus.

While Dr. Waleed Al-Bunni, M.D., was leaving his house in Al-Tal (near Damascus) to go to his clinic at 5 pm on December 17, 2007, he was stopped by a patrol of the Syrian Secret Police and was driven away to an undisclosed location.

Dr. Waleed Al-Bunni M.D., was born in Al-Tal (1964.) He got his medical degree from the University of Budapest , Hungary, with the specialization in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT).
He was a professor at the University of Damascus before his first detention. He was detained on September 9th, 2001, because his activities during the period of “ Damascus Spring “. He was set free on January 17, 2005. He was a founding member of the Democratic Dialogue Forum which formerly was held in the home of Mr. Ryad Sayf, an ex-member of the Syrian Parliament. He participated in founding the committees of Civil Societies Revival and the Human Rights Society in 2001. He is married and has three children.

Dr. Muhammad Yaser Al-Ayty M.D., was born in Ryad (1968.) He is a father of three children. He got his medical degree from the University of Damascus. He has his specialization in Internal Medicine from UK Universities. He has delivered many lectures in human development and has organized several training workshops and symposiums. He has translated more than twenty books into Arabic, including works in genetic engineering and human development. He participated in last month's meeting and was elected as a member of the General Secretary of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change.

- A patrol of five Secret Police Officers came to the house of Ali Al-Abdallah and led him to an undisclosed location. Ali Al-Abdallah was born in Dar Al-Zur (1950.) His son Umar Al-Abdallah is currently detained in the prison of Sednaya with the incident that is known as the “Students' Group.”

Ali Abdallah is a graduate of the University of Damascus Philosophy College in 1973. He is a journalist. In 1994, he was arrested at the Damascus International Airport on his return from Tunisia. He was released six months later. He has published many articles and research in local and international affairs. He writes for several Arabic publications such as Al-Hayat, Al-Safir, and Al-Khalije among others.

He was arrested in 2005 because of his activities in the Jamal Al-Atasi’s Forum for National and Democratic Dialogue. He was set free after six months in jail and released by a presidential amnesty. He was arrested in March 2006 with his son Muhammad because of his participation of a peaceful vigil in front of the High Court of State Security. He spent six months in detention.

Mr. Abdallah was elected as a member of the General Secretary of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change.

- On January 2, 2008, the Secret Police arrested Mr. Rashid Al-Sattuf around 10 pm on January 2, 2008, the Secret Police arrested him from his home in the city of Al-Raqqah and led him to an undisclosed location.
After three days , Mr. Al-Sattuf was set free in the evening of January 5, 2007.

- On January 3, 2008, the Secret Police arrested the Journalist Fayez Sarah

Because of his participation in the meeting of the National Syrian Council for Democratic Change, the Syrian Secret Police has arrested the journalist Sarah at around 10 am on January 3, 2008, and led him to undisclosed location.

Mr. Sarah was born in Jayroud near Damascus (1950.) He is married and has four children. He writes in many Arabic publications including: Al-Hayat (UK), Al-Safir (Lebanon), Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), Al-Nur (Syria), and AL-Arab al-yaum (Jordan).
He has authored many books including the Encyclopedia of the Arabic Cartoon (two volumes.)

All these activists were arrested by Information Security Branch, ( Called Branch 255 ) . this branch followed by State Security in Syria (General Security Administration or Al-Mukhabarat Al-Ammah) . This branch is headed by Colonel Zuhayr Al-Hamd. The branch is under the authority of the Major General Ali Mamluk.

All detainees were held in a single room measuring 2 X 0.8 meters (2.6 X 6.6 feet).
During their detention and interrogation, the detainees were physically tortured. This includes slapping, kicking, boxing and beating on the face and other parts of the body. Colonel Zuhayr Al-Hamd personally conducted the beatings and torture.

Our source confirmed that Fayez Sarah was tortured with several beatings.And we can confirm that Mr. Akram Al-Bunni has some problems in his health condition.