Ribal Al-Assad calls on the Syrian regime to release activist who criticised Iran

Syrian political activist, Ali Al-`Abdallah, a member of the Damascus Declaration opposition group, finished a 30-month jail sentence on June 17, 2010. Instead of releasing him, Syria's prison authorities referred him to a military court for his statement to a news agency from his prison cell criticising human rights violations during Iran's 2009 presidential election and for an article he wrote critiquing Iran's wilayat al-faqih doctrine, which grants absolute political authority to a religious figure.

The Damascus Declaration is a gathering of numerous opposition groups and activists calling for democratic reforms in Syria. Al-`Abdallah was detained by State Security officials in December 2007 after he and others associated with the Damascus Declaration met to elect a new executive committee. A court sentenced him, along with 11 other activists, to 30-month sentences on vaguely defined charges of "weakening national sentiment" and "spreading false or exaggerated news that would affect the morale of the country."

All of the Damascus Declaration detainees were released at the end of their prison terms in June 2010, except for Al- 'Abdallah.

In September, a military investigative judge charged Al-`Abdullah with "spoiling Syria's relations with another country" under article 278 of the Penal Code. On December 1, a military court confirmed the charge, in response to an appeal by his lawyers. No date has been set for the trial.

Commenting on Al-'Abdallah's case, Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said:

"This is a new low for a government known for its complete intolerance of criticism, Syria's authorities are no longer satisfied with jailing peaceful critics of their own policies. Now they want to punish people for what they say about another government."

Commenting on the case, ODFS Director Ribal Al-Assad, said:

"I call on the Syrian regime to release Ali Al-'Abdallah and all other political prisoners immediately, to end its practice of arbitrary arrests and detention, and to allow freedom of expression and association. This will help Syria move towards genuine democracy and freedom in a peaceful and transitional way.”