Akraam Al-Bunni - Journalist and Author

Akraam Al-Bunni studied Medicine at University. However, he was detained during the final year of his studies and was, thus, unable to finish his degree. Instead, he dedicated himself to human rights activism alongside journalism and authoring books. He was elected as a member of the leadership group of the National Council. As a political prisoner, and brother of prominent imprisoned human rights lawyer, Anwar Al-Bunni, Akraam continues a legacy of working in favour of Democracy in Syria. His present detention dates from December 12, 2007. Prior to this current period of imprisonment, Akraam has been detained on three separate occasions.

Ali Al-Abdullah - Journalist

Ali Al-Abdullah was detained at his home in Damascus on December 17, 2007. He is a journalist and member of the Committee for the Revi-talization of Civil Society in Syria. He is a former political prisoner and an elected member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration.

Riad Hamood Drar

Born in 1954 at Daer Al-Zor, Mr Drar is a researcher on Islamic Studies. He is an activist in the Committee for Civil Society Survival in Syria.

Mr Drar was arrested on 4 June 2005 by the political security service in Dier Al-Zur. He was later sentenced by the Syrian Supreme Security Court (SSSC) to 5 years in prison.

The day before his arrest, he made a speech during the funeral of Sheikh Mohammad Mashoq Al-Khaznawi in Al-Qamishli, in which he called for national unity and freedom and democracy. He was also the head of the National Democratic Dialog Conference in Dier al-Zur which took place on 20May 2005.

He has a degree in Arabic Literature from Beirut University and taught Arabic in the secondary school system in Dier Al-Zur. Drar's frequent speeches in the Mosques of Dier Al-Zur criticized the "Al-Takferia" ideology and "Al-Sufi" methods which encourage Muslims to distance themselves from public life.

He was a member of the Committee of Civil Society Survival in Syria. He is married with 3 sons and 3 daughters.

Nezar Rastanawi

Mr Rastanawi is from Hama. Having graduated in Engineering from the University of Aleppo in 1983, he became a member of the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria in 2003. He left it in 2005.

He is currently a member of the Human Rights Association in Syria and Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria.

On 8 April 2005 he was kidnapped by the security service whilst returning home. After 20 days, his car was seen in front of the military security service in Hama, then they were forced to admit to his detention there. He is now standing trial in front of the Supreme State Security Court.

He is married with 4 sons and 4 daughters.

Dr Mohammed Safwan Tayfour

Born in Hama in 1950, Dr Tayfour is married to a Croat and has, himself, Croatian nationality. He is a specialist in laboratory analysis.
Three days after his arrest, the laboratory committee put Dr. Mohammed's laboratory under external supervision which means he will suffer financial loses. He is a Social activist.

Dr Tayfour has one daughter who studies Medicine in Croatia, and one son who is a student in Aleppo university.

Khalil Husien

Khalil Husien, a well-known political activist, was born in 1952 in Al-Qamishli. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment due to his membership of the Communist Labor Party.


He participated in the foundation of the Kurdish Future Current in 2005.
He worked as an anesthetist in a private hospital in Damascus.
He has a daughter called Toleb.

Suleiman Shummar

Suleiman Shummar was born in 1958 at Al-Salamia. He studied at the University of Electronic Engineering but was unable to continue his studies due to financial reasons. He later took up his studies again, this time at the open university in Damascus, media studies.

Mr Shummar became a member of the Arab Revolutionary Workers Party in 1986. In 1991 he was elected to the National Conference of the party. And two years later, in 1993, he was elected to represent the Party in the Democratic National Congress. In 1996 he was elected to be member of the political bureau of the Party.

Mr Shummar is also a member of the Temporary Committee of the Damascus Declaration.
He is an active political writer and analyst.

His wife died 4 years ago, and he has one daughter called Rawia, who is 13 years old.
He suffers from bad health, 3 years ago he had heart surgery. Shortly before his arrest, his doctors told him that he needed a new heart operation urgently.

Mohammed Haji Darwish - political activist

Mohammed Haji Darwish, political activist and former political prisoner, was detained on January 7, 2008.

Fayez Sarah - Journalist

Fayez Sarah, journalist and founder member of the
Committee for the Revitalization of Civil Society in Syria,
was detained on January 3, 2008.

Mohammed Yasser Al-Ayty - Doctor

Dr. Mohammed Yasser Al-Ayty is a medical doctor and elected member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration. He was taken into detention at his home in Damascus on December 17, 2007.

Walid Al-Bunni - Doctor

Dr. Walid Al-Bunni is a medical doctor and democracy activist.
A former political prisoner, he was a founder member of several
pro-democracy organizations. He was taken into detention at his home near Damascus on December 17, 2007.

Harsh sentencing - seven human rights youths

The Syrian Supreme Court sentenced seven human rights defenders (photos below) to between five and seven years' imprisonment on 17 June 2007 for allegedly taking part in a pro-democracy discussion group and publishing articles on the internet which criticized the lack of democracy and freedom in Syria.

Tareq Al-Ghorani (21) and Maher Ibrahim Isber (26), were sentenced to seven years imprisonment and Husam Mulhim (22), Allam Fakhour (29) Ayham Saqr (31), Omar Al-Abdullah (21), Diab Siriyeh (21), to five years' imprisonment, on charges of carrying out activities or making written statements or speeches that expose Syria to the risk of hostile operations.

Husam Mulhim, Tareq Al-Ghorani, Ayham Saqr, Allam Fakhour Maher Ibrahim Isber, Omar Al-Abdullah, and Diab Siriyeh were all arrested between 26 January 2006 and 18 March 2006 by Syrian Air Force Intelligence.

They have been detained incommunicado, denied access to their lawyers and prohibited from having any contact with their families. They have reportedly also been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while detained. These seven human rights defenders have been targeted as a result of their peaceful and legitimate activities in defense of human rights and democracy.

For further information follow the link to read Amnesty International's report in English


ESP: Para más información acerca de este tema, lea el informe de Amnistía Internacional en Español.

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THEIR PHOTOS

Tareq Al-Ghorani, Associate Engineer (21)




Omar Ali Al-Abdullah (21), a second-year Philosophy student at Damascus University. He is the son of released prisoner of conscience Ali Al-Abdullah and brother of released prisoner of conscience Muhammad Al-Abdullah.




Allam Fakhour (29), undergraduate Fine Arts (Sculpture) student, Faculty of Arts, Damascus University.




Ayham Al-Saqr (30), worked in a beauty salon




Husam Ali Al-Mulhim (22), a student in the Faculty of Law at Damascus University, where he also organised poetry readings.

Diab Siriyeh (21), student.

Maher Isber Ibrahim (26), small business owner.

Dr. Ahmad Tohme - political activist

Dr. Ahmad Tohme, a dentist, political activist and elected member of the National Council of The Damascus Declaration, was detained in Damascus on December 9, 2007.

Jabr Al-Shoufi - Teacher

Jabr al-Shoufi, teacher, member of the Executive Board of the Committee for the Defense of Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), and elected member of the National Council of The Damascus Declaration, was detained in Damascus on December 9, 2007.