The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) has called upon the Syrian Authorities to release the human rights activist Nizar Rastanawi following the end of his prison sentence of four years. SHRC considers his detainment as a blatant breach of law, particularly as he was supposed to be released on 18/4/2009. The security authorities however, have ignored this despite the repeated calls for his release.

The engineer Nizar Rastanawi (49 years) was arrested on 18/4/2005 whilst returning to his home in the village of Morik in the province of Hama. Initially, security authorities denied that he had been detained, however his car was seen in one of their branches, and thereafter, from 3/5/2005, the security admitted that he had been detained.

Nizar Rastanawi was subjected to torture, humiliation, and degrading treatment during his interrogation and trial, which lasted for six months.

The SSSC in Damascus sentenced him to four years in prison on 19/11/2006, accusing him of disseminating false news and vilifying the president of the Republic, due to his activism in general affairs.

Syrian Human Rights Committee
30/4/2009