URGENT ACTION
UA 270/04
Fear of torture / Incommunicado detention
SYRIA
'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa (m), aged 45
'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa is said to be in a 'horrific'
physical condition after being tortured and beaten while in
incommunicado detention at the Military Intelligence Centre
in Homs, western Syria. He is believed to have been tricked
into arrest by the Syrian security forces.
A Syrian citizen, 'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa has been living
with his family in exile in Jordan for over 20 years. On 27
August, his wife and children, who had been visiting Syria,
were stopped at the border as they attempted to re-enter
Jordan. 'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa was asked to come to the
Syrian side of the border to sign consent papers for the
travel of his eight-year-old son, but when he arrived, was
himself threatened by Syrian security forces. He tried to
flee back to the Jordanian side of the border, but was
captured, and handed over to Syrian security officers.
While in incommunicado detention at the Military
Intelligence Centre in Homs, he is said to have been
repeatedly beaten on his feet and all over his body with
sticks and cables, and to have suffered many beatings to
his stomach. He has not received any visits from his
family, lawyers or doctors, nor has he been charged with
any offence.
The arrest of 'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa may be a result of his
reported sympathies with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood,
an organization which renounced armed struggle in 1986. In
recent years there have been a number of cases in which the
Syrian authorities have facilitated the return of Syrian
exiles by issuing them travel documents, but have then
arrested and detained them on arrival. The Muslim
Brotherhood and those affiliated to them are subject to
the death penalty under Syrian law 49.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send personally-worded appeals
to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Arabic or
French or your own language:
- expressing concern at the incommunicado detention and
reported torture and ill-treatment of 'Abd al-Salam
Assaqqa;
- calling for the immediate and unconditional release of
'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa unless he is to be charged with a
recognisable criminal offence;
- calling for 'Abd al-Salam Assaqqa to be granted immediate
access to his family, to a lawyer, and to any medical
assistance that he may require.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Bashar al-Assad
President
Presidential Palace
Abu Rummaneh
al-Rashid Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 332 3410
Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency Major General 'Ali Hammud
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of Interior
Merjeh Circle
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 222 3428
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
His Excellency Ahmad Farouk Arnous
Ambassador for the Syrian Arab Republic
151 Slater Street, Suite 1000
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3
Fax: (613) 569-3800
E-mail: syrianembassy@on.aibn.com
URGENT ACTION IS VITAL AND APPRECIATED
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