International News
Assad urged to free ailing activist
Posted on: Mon July 26, 2010
International Highlights
DAMASCUS: Human rights groups from Syria and abroad on Sunday appealed for President Bashar al-Assad to release a 79-year-old prominent rights lawyer and activist jailed for publishing false information.
They expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health of Haytham al-Maleh, 79, who is being held in Adra prison in Damascus despite the serious health problems endangering his life, they said in a joint statement.
Earlier this month, Maleh was sentenced by a Syrian court to three years in prison on charges of publishing false information that could weaken national morale, in a ruling that drew condemnation. The rights groups called for Assad to intervene rapidly to release Maleh in a special presidential decree to mark his 10 years in power. We also expect the Syrian government to take positive measures to respect and strengthen human rights by decreeing a general amnesty for all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, the statement read.
Maleh, who has worked for Amnesty International since 1989 and was involved in founding a Syrian rights group, was arrested on October 14 and questioned in a military tribunal over articles he had written.
Courtesy : The News