Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

With the exception of a few cases, our investigation indicates that SSSC trials usually do notinvolve any testimony by witnesses either for the prosecution or the defense. 26 A seasonedlawyer who regularly appears before the SSSC told Human Rights Watch:It is rare for the prosecution to call any witnesses. And when they do, thewitnesses tend to be either security officials or informants. It is even rarer forthe court to accept the testimony of defense witnesses. Even when witnessesappear, they rarely add anything. In the case of [name withheld], a number ofwitnesses were called to support the testimony of the defendant, but thecourt completely ignored their testimony. 27Even though the SSSC trials usually consist of four short sessions, half of the trials weinvestigated took three years to conclude because SSSC officials scheduled court sessionsmonths apart. Human Rights Watch’s review of the time between the date of arrest and thedate of sentencing by the SSSC in 217 cases since January 2007 shows that 50% of casestook three years or more.26 Three defendants before the SSSC told Human Rights Watch that there were no witnesses in their trial before the SSSC.Human Rights Watch phone interview with former detainee K.K., August 22, 2008; Human Rights Watch phone interview withformer detainee Mas`ud Hamed, August 19, 2008; Human Rights Watch phone interview with former detainee C.A., February 15,2008. An experienced Syrian lawyer as well as a diplomat who regularly attends SSSC trials confirmed to Human Rights Watchthat witnesses rarely appear before the SSSC. Human Rights Watch e-mail from Syrian lawyer S.A., July 31, 2008; HumanRights Watch interview with Damascus-based Western diplomat N.R., Beirut, October 7, 2008.27 Human Rights Watch e-mail from Syrian lawyer C.O., October 8, 2008.13 Human Rights Watch February 2009