Norway deplores sentences against Syrian human rights defenders

On 23 June and 4 July, respectively, the two prominent human rights lawyers and activists Muhannad al-Hassani and Haytham al-Maleh were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by Syrian courts for “spreading false information likely to weaken the morale of the nation” under the Syrian Penal Code. Mr al-Maleh, aged 79, who was arrested in October last year, is in poor health. 

“The Norwegian Government deplores these sentences and calls on Syria to abide by its international commitments, and in particular by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of opinion and expression,” said State Secretary Espen Barth Eide.

“I urge the Syrian Government to set aside the judgments, and immediately release Mr al-Hassani and Mr al-Maleh,” said State Secretary Barth Eide.  “We remain seriously concerned about the human rights situation and especially the recent series of arbitrary detentions and unreasonable sentences against human rights defenders in Syria,” Mr Barth Eide added.

Another human rights activist, Ali al-Abdallah, was arrested again in June this year, immediately after his release from Adra prison after having completed his sentence. Mr al-Abdallah was among those who signed what is known as the Damascus Declaration, which calls for the lifting of the ban on freedom of expression and assembly, and for the abolition of the emergency law.

“The Norwegian Government calls on the Syrian Government to release all political prisoners, uphold the right to freedom of expression and allow its citizens to exercise their human rights without restrictions,” said Mr Barth Eide.