Campaigns
Syria
Is Anwar El-Bony destined to meet death in Syrian prisons?
Cairo: August 21, 2007
"Passing away is easier for me" … This is the way the Syrian lawyer and human rights activist Anwar El-bony has chosen for himself when he threatened to go on a hunger strike until death. In Adra central prison, El-bony is receiving a very inhuman treatment. There, he is being beaten and insulted on daily basis. His suffering has increased recently after the prison forces had found in his room a reminder in which he describes the treatment he receives in prison.
Anwar El-bony is a Syrian lawyer and human rights activist that took upon himself protecting human rights in Syria. In March 2006, he set out an NGO for human rights in Syria, which was soon closed by security forces. El-bony took part in several human rights and political reform activities in the Arab world. Without exaggeration, El-bony is one of the most prominent defenders of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Syria. In addition, he is the coordinator of the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) in Syria.
Events: on December 31, 2006, El-Bony was attacked in prison by a criminal who threw him down stairs and hit him in the head in the presence of the prison guards.
On July 25, 2007, prison guards beat him and cut his hair by force.
On May 17, 2006, El-Bony was arrested. In January 2007, he was sentenced by the criminal court to pass five years in prison and pay 100000 liras for spreading false information that endanger the security of the state (according to article 286 of the Syrian criminal law)
It worth noting that the real reason for El-Bony's being arrested and prosecuted was his signing on the Beirut-Damascus declaration that supported respecting and reinforcing the sovereignty and independence of both Lebanon and Syria for the interests of people in both countries.
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) puts the responsibility for guaranteeing the safety of Anwar El-Bony on the Syrian government and Adra prison administration. It also implores international and regional human rights organizations to join its campaign for putting an end to suppressing rights and blockading human rights activists and organizations in the Arab world.
A copy of this urgent action will be sent to:
The UN special reporter for human rights defenders,
The Arab League Human rights administration, and
Human rights watch.
To join our campaign, kindly contact : Ahmed@aphra.org
18 Seibawih El Masri St; branch from El Tayaran St; Behind Raba'ah El Adawaya
Mosque, Nasr City, Third floor, flat No 6
Fax:- 202 24020178 Tel:- 00202 24041185 -- 00202 24044906
aphra@aphra.org www.aphra.org
