Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

and subsequently the president of the SSSC stated that he intended to release Salman. 117 Nofurther information was obtained on whether Salman was released.On that same day, Mustapha Ahmad Jablawi and his brother `Omar, appeared before theSSSC on charges of insulting the government and the `Alawite community. According tonotes of the trial, Mustapha Jablawi denied the accusations and told the court that he waswrongly accused by his business partner with whom he had a fight over 315,000 Syrianpounds give (approximately $6,800). 118 Human Rights Watch was unable to obtain anyfurther information on the case, as the Jablawi brothers do not appear in any of the othertrial notes reviewed by Human Rights Watch.On November 18, 2007, the SSSC interrogated Moudher Yagi, who is reported to have saidduring a large family gathering that Syrian officials “had committed errors in Lebanon whichlead to the death of former [Lebanese] Prime Minister Hariri” and to have expressed a“negative opinion of President al-Asad while endorsing former Iraqi president SaddamHussein.” He is charged with spreading “false or exaggerated information that weakensnational sentiment” (Art. 286 of Penal Code) as well as defaming the Syrian president (Art.376 of Penal Code). 119 His trial is ongoing.On April 13, 2008, the SSSC interrogated Samir Barghache, who reportedly insultedPresident Bashar al-Asad while at his uncle’s home. According to notes of diplomatic trialobservers, Syrian security services arrested Barghache after informants told them that hehad insulted President Bashar al-Asad while watching television at his uncle’s home.Barghache reportedly compared the Syrian president and Saddam Hussein, noting that inthe same way President Saddam’s control over Iraq ended, so would President Bashar’s. Inthe court, Barghache disputed the allegations of the informants and asked that the owner ofthe house where he was watching television be called in to testify. The trial is ongoing and ispending resumption of the SSSC activities. 120On May 18, 2008, the SSSC interrogated `Amer Salkhadi, who is facing charges of insultingthe government and the former Syrian president, Hafez al-Asad. The court listened to twowitnesses. According to notes of diplomatic trial observers, the first witness stated that heheard Salkhadi saying that Hafez al-Asad was a thief. The second witness denied hearing117 Trial notes by European diplomats, July 22, 2007 (on record with Human Rights Watch).118 Ibid.119 Trial notes by European diplomats, November 18, 2007 (on record with Human Rights Watch).120 Trial notes by European diplomats, April 13, 2008 (on record with Human Rights Watch).Far From Justice 36