Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

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Another diplomat saw additional advantages:There are two good reasons to continue the practice: First, it shows theSyrian authorities that Western countries are really interested in humanrights in the country. (Syrian authorities regularly tend to imply that thehuman rights would only be an excuse for Western countries to advanceother, less moral, interests.) Secondly, it communicates a message to thehuman rights activists, lawyers, detainees and their families that we care. 172172 Human Rights Watch e-mail from Damascus-based Western Diplomat B.B., August 14, 2008.51 Human Rights Watch February 2009
VII. RecommendationsShort of disbanding the court there is no way to improve an institution whosevery existence is antithetical to human rights.—Western diplomat who monitors the Court 173To the Syrian GovernmentIn order to comply with its international human rights obligations, the Syrian governmentshould:With respect to the SSSC and individuals sentenced by it• Dissolve the court. Given the magnitude of the SSSC’s non-compliance withinternational human rights law, and its explicit role as an exceptional court centeredon the emergency law, the SSSC cannot be reformed.• Create an independent judicial commission to review the existing cases before theSSSC and order the release of defendants facing prosecution solely for their nonviolentexercise of freedom of expression or association. In cases where there isevidence that the defendant committed recognizable criminal offenses, the judicialcommission should transfer the cases to the regular criminal courts where thedefendants should be provided with a fair trial in accordance with internationalhuman rights standards.• Allow defendants serving a sentence imposed by the SSSC to appeal their convictionand sentence to the Criminal Court of Appeal. In reviewing such sentences, the Courtof Appeal should reject any evidence obtained by coercion and reverse sentencesunder penal code provisions used to criminalize free speech and free association.With respect to the continuing State of Emergency• Lift the state of emergency and repeal Syria’s Emergency Law. The continuedapplication of the Emergency Law since 1963 violates the International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Syria is a party. The Syrian governmenthas failed to show that the state of emergency is strictly necessary for its security.173 Human Rights Watch e-mail from Damascus-Based Western diplomat A.H., August 15, 2008.Far From Justice 52
Page 1 and 2:
SyriaFar From JusticeSyria’s Supr
Page 3 and 4:
Copyright © 2009 Human Rights Watc
Page 6 and 7: I. SummaryIt is not really a judici
Page 8 and 9: denies lawyers the opportunity to e
Page 10 and 11: elonging to groups planning terrori
Page 12 and 13: The Syrian authorities have demonst
Page 14 and 15: conducted interviews with them over
Page 16 and 17: The decisions of the SSSC cannot be
Page 18 and 19: With the exception of a few cases,
Page 20 and 21: of a court session when the detaine
Page 22 and 23: silent, and only the judge and mukh
Page 24 and 25: parties other than the ruling Baàt
Page 26 and 27: In subsequent years, the SSSC has r
Page 28 and 29: possession of CD's, booklets etc. o
Page 30 and 31: Ocalan was based in Damascus, and t
Page 32 and 33: IV. The SSSC’s Recent Activities:
Page 34 and 35: November 4, 2007November 11, 2007No
Page 36 and 37: A third detainee sentenced by the S
Page 38 and 39: interpreted narrowly, with terms su
Page 40 and 41: eputation of the country,” conclu
Page 42 and 43: anything. The judge said they will
Page 44 and 45: not note any additional evidence pr
Page 46 and 47: democracy.” 138 The sentencing wa
Page 48 and 49: state’s laws are not criminals. A
Page 50 and 51: After signing, they took us to Àdr
Page 52 and 53: “belonging to a secret organizati
Page 54 and 55: Muslim Brotherhood. Syrian security
Page 58 and 59: With respect to the legal system•
Page 60 and 61: With respect to Syria’s more gene
Page 62 and 63: IX. AppendicesAnnex I - List of Jud
Page 64 and 65: Shirzad bin27Muhammad SamiBakrNear
Page 66 and 67: 505152535455565758596061Muhammad Ah
Page 68 and 69: 747576777879808182Wasim MuhammadJam
Page 70 and 71: 102Àbd al-KhubarÀlawi bin Ahmadb.
Page 72 and 73: 135Ahmad al-Ùjaylb. 1982Deir al-Zu
Page 74 and 75: 16316416516616716816917017117217317
Page 76 and 77: 196197Jamà bin Hussain al-ShahadaY
Page 78 and 79: 228Jamal Nabà binHassanUnknown 25-
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Far From Justice - Human Rights Watch

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