Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

eputation of the country,” concluding that its references to the “interests of nationalsecurity” were “unsubstantiated.” 1152. Trials of Individuals who Insult the PresidentThe SSSC also has tried between January 2007 and June 2008 at least eight individuals forcriticizing the government's policies or the Syrian president in private conversations. Thoseaccused have included ordinary Syrian citizens – including mechanics, small shop owners,and employees – with no evidence of political involvement, merely overheard, in theirpersonal environments, expressing criticism of the president or the government. The factthat the government has persecuted these people, often relying on the surveillance andreports of neighbors, friends and family members, acting as informants, is indicative of theextent of the government’s long-arm reach into the personal lives of Syrian citizens and itsneed to protect itself from any “threat,” no matter how insignificant. Of the eight casesreviewed, one was sentenced, six are still believed to be on trial at the time of writing, andone’s status is unknown, as the SSSC president had stated his intent to release him butHuman Rights Watch has not obtained any information on whether he was actually released.On April 15, 2007, the SSSC sentenced Muhamad Walid al-Husseini, 67, to three years in jailfor spreading “false or exaggerated information that weaken national sentiment” (Art. 286 ofPenal Code) as well as defaming the Syrian president (Art. 376 of Penal Code). According to astatement by the Syrian Human Rights Organization (SHRO) which had a member act as thedefendant’s lawyer, the court sentenced al-Husseini because a member of the securityservices heard him insulting the Syrian president and criticizing corruption in Syria whilesitting at the Rawda café in Damascus. 116 SHRO’s statement does not refer to any additionalevidence against the defendant.On July 22, 2007, Ahmad Salman, a car mechanic, appeared before the SSSC on charges ofinsulting the Syrian president and the `Alawite community – the sect of Shi`a Islam to whichthe Asad family belongs – during a fight with another car mechanic. According to notes byEuropean diplomats present in the court that day, five witnesses testified that Salman didparticipate in the fight but denied hearing him insult the Syrian President or the `Alawites,115 ‘Abdel Rahman al-Shaghouri v. Syrian Arab Republic, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, opinion No. 4/2005, U.N. Doc.E/CN.4/2006/7/Add.1 at 22 (2005)., adopted on 24 May 2005 http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/wgad/4-2005.html . For moreinformation about the case, see Amnesty International, “Syria: Further information on Prisoner of conscience/legalconcern/torture and other ill-treatment, 'Abdel Rahman Shaghouri,” June 21, 2004,http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE240462004?open&of=ENG-315 (accessed September 12, 2008).116 “Trials before the SSSC for the week of December 10, 2006,” SHRO-Swasiya statement, December 14, 2006,http://www.shro-syria.com/2007/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=378 (accessed November 8, 2008).35 Human Rights Watch February 2009