Detained Syrian human rights defenders report torture | Amnesty International

The fresh reports of torture come as UN observers witness a surge in violence across Syria.

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Until now, very little information has been available about the well-being of these human rights defenders held since February’s raid.

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Ann Harrison, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International

Fri, 27/04/2012

Concern is growing for three human rights defenders being held incommunicado at a military base near Damascus, amid reports they may be facing ongoing torture, Amnesty International said.

Hani Zitani, Abd al-Rahman Hamada and Mansour al-Omari are being held in the town of al-Mo’damiya outside the capital, at a base run by the Fourth Armoured Division, under the de facto command of the Syrian president’s brother Maher al-Assad.  

Another three of their colleagues detained with them there from 19 March until 22 April were brought before a military court on Sunday, where they alleged that Fourth Armoured Division officials had tortured, including by beatings, all six men during that time.

The six men – prisoners of conscience accused of “having an illegal recording with a view to distribute banned publications” – were among 14 men and women arrested in February during a security forces raid on the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression in Damascus.

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