Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

not note any additional evidence presented in court. Two months later, on November25, 2007, the SSSC sentenced him to two years in jail. 130• On October 28, 2007, the SSSC interrogated Hussein al-Wasil based on charges thathe belonged to a salafi group aimed at changing the structure of the state through“terrorist means” (Art. 306 of Penal Code). According to trial notes by Europeandiplomats, the SSSC judge stated that al-Wasil had bought CDs and books that aretakfir in nature and call for jihad in Iraq. The only additional evidence noted byEuropean diplomats was that the SSSC presiding judge noted that “al-Wasil had abeard at the time he was arrested.” At his trial session on October 28, 2007, al-Wasilsaid that he bought the books in a known bookshop in Damascus, Dar al-Qur’an al-Karim (the house of the Koran). 131 The sentencing was scheduled for December 30,2007, but Human Rights Watch has no information on whether the session tookplace, as al-Wasil’s case does not appear in any subsequent notes by diplomats orSyrian activists and lawyers.• On the same day as al-Wasil’s interrogation, the SSSC also interrogated Khaled Najib,a political science student, about his studies at a Yemeni mosque and hismembership in a salafi group. According to trial notes by European diplomats, Najibadmitted to having visited Egyptian religious websites and listening to “Salafi takfiri”CDs, but stated that he did so “as part of his study” and that he had also consultednationalist and communist literature. The diplomats described the SSSC presidingjudge as admonishing him for not adhering to Ba`athist ideas. The trial observers’notes do not refer to any additional evidence. 132 Human Rights Watch has noadditional information on the case because it does not appear in any subsequentnotes of diplomats or Syrian activists and lawyers.• On November 18, 2007, the SSSC interrogated Ibrahim Kabaro and accused him ofpossessing salafi books (including books by Sheikh Mahmud Agassi, also known asAbu al-Qa`qa) 133 and selling these books to another. The SSSC also accused Kabaroof insulting the Syrian authorities and the `Alawite community. Kabaro denied theaccusation and indicated that members of the Palestine branch of security servicesextracted his confessions using torture “inflicted during nine days while he was atthe Palestine branch.” Trial notes by European diplomats do not refer to any130 “Trials of the SSSC in Damascus,” NOHR statement, November 26, 2007, http://anhri.net/syria/nohrs/2007/pr1126.shtml,(accessed November 20, 2008).131 Trial notes by European diplomats, October 28, 2007 (on record with Human Rights Watch).132 Ibid.133 See Section III.C above (“Profile of Current Defendants before the SSSC”) for a discussion of Abu al-Qa`Qa`.39 Human Rights Watch February 2009