Syria: Arbitrary Detention of DI member Mr. Marawan Al-Ish

The arbitrary detention of Defend International member Mr. Marawan Al-Ish in Syria has caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.
The organization promotes a joint action against the authorities’ oppression on human rights supporters and calls on the authorities for Mr. Marawan’s immediate and unconditional release.

Name: Marawan Al-Ish
Sex: Male
Authorities: Syrian
Category: Fear of torture or ill-treatment / incommunicado detention / prisoners of conscience

The case:
According to information received from DI Defenders and DI member organizations, Defend International member Mr. Marawan Al-Ish was arrested on January 15, 2008. Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is an engineer, member of a trade union and member of the National Council of Damascus Declaration.
It is believed that his arrest was due to his participation in an extensive meeting called for by the Secretariat of Damascus Declaration on December 1, 2007. He is believed now to be detained incommunicado which puts him at grave risk of torture and/or other forms of ill-treatment.


DI Demands:
Defend International (DI) condemns Syrian authorities’ wave of arrests and intimidation against members of the National Council of Damascus Declaration, including: Dr. Fidaa Al Hourani, writer Akram Al-Bunni, Dr. Ahmed Tima, Dr. Walid Al Bunni, writer Ali Al-Abdullah, Dr. Yasser Al Aiti, Mr. Gabr Al Shoufi, Mr. Mohammad Haji Darwish, writer Fayez Sara and Mr. Marawan Al-Ish.

The arbitrary detention of DI member Mr. Marawan Al-Ish caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.
As a member of Defend International Mr. Al-Ish is a human rights defender and supporter.
Defend International is promoting a joint action against the authorities’ oppression on human rights supporters.

DI calls on the Syrian authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of DI member Mr. Marawan Al-Ish, unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

DI highlights that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association.

DI urges Syrian authorities to:

* Provide immediate guarantees that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish will not be subjected to torture or otherwise ill-treated in accordance with the fact that Syria is a State party to the United Nations Convention against Torture.

* Ensure that all activists in Syria would be able to conduct their peaceful and legitimate human right activities without fear of arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment or other human rights violations.
The incidents of harassment, intimidation and arrests are in direct violation of the rights to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly, as provided for in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a party, as well as in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 1998. This declaration in particular outlines the duty of states to take all necessary measures to protect human rights defenders from violence and arbitrary action.



DI campaign:
Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.

With thanks and appreciation

Defend International


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His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 332 3410

Your Excellency,

Hereby I wish to draw your attention to the case of engineer Mr. Marawan Al-Ish, who was reportedly detained on 15 January 2008. His arrest has caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.

We are concerned that he is detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge you to provide immediate guarantees that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is not being tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Furthermore I would like to point out that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association. I call on you to release him immediately and unconditionally unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

It is my hope that Your Excellency will ensure that all activists in Syria would be able to conduct their peaceful and legitimate human right activities without fear of arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment or other human rights violations.

I wish you to remind the authorities that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish has the right to immediate and unrestricted access to his family, a lawyer, and any medical treatment he may need.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


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His Excellency
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
Abdul Rahman Shahbandar Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 2223428


Your Excellency,

Hereby I wish to draw your attention to the case of engineer Mr. Marawan Al-Ish, who was reportedly detained on 15 January 2008. His arrest has caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.

We are concerned that he is detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge you to provide immediate guarantees that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is not being tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Furthermore I would like to point out that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association. I call on you to release him immediately and unconditionally unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

It is my hope that Your Excellency will ensure that all activists in Syria would be able to conduct their peaceful and legitimate human right activities without fear of arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment or other human rights violations.

I wish you to remind the authorities that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish has the right to immediate and unrestricted access to his family, a lawyer, and any medical treatment he may need.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,



-----------------------


His Excellency Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Al-Nasr Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: +963 11 666 2460


Your Excellency,

Hereby I wish to draw your attention to the case of engineer Mr. Marawan Al-Ish, who was reportedly detained on 15 January 2008. His arrest has caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.

We are concerned that he is detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge you to provide immediate guarantees that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is not being tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Furthermore I would like to point out that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association. I call on you to release him immediately and unconditionally unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

It is my hope that Your Excellency will ensure that all activists in Syria would be able to conduct their peaceful and legitimate human right activities without fear of arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment or other human rights violations.

I wish you to remind the authorities that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish has the right to immediate and unrestricted access to his family, a lawyer, and any medical treatment he may need.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


-----------------------


His Excellency Walid Muallim
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
al-Rashid Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 332 7620


Your Excellency,

Hereby I wish to draw your attention to the case of engineer Mr. Marawan Al-Ish, who was reportedly detained on 15 January 2008. His arrest has caused great concern among human rights defenders worldwide.

We are concerned that he is detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge you to provide immediate guarantees that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is not being tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Furthermore I would like to point out that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions in line with his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association. I call on you to release him immediately and unconditionally unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

It is my hope that Your Excellency will ensure that all activists in Syria would be able to conduct their peaceful and legitimate human right activities without fear of arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment or other human rights violations.

I wish you to remind the authorities that Mr. Marawan Al-Ish has the right to immediate and unrestricted access to his family, a lawyer, and any medical treatment he may need.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,

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