Press Statement
Robert Wood, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 29, 2008

Attack on Human Rights Activists in Syria

We are concerned over the fate of Syrian Kurdish activist Mashaal Tammo, whose disturbing arrest is the most recent of a string of detentions of civil society activists by the Syrian government. Tammo was arrested on August 15, by the Syrian security services. He was then transferred to a detention facility in Damascus, where he was held incommunicado for 15 days. Tammo appeared in Syrian civilian court for preliminary hearings on August 27, which was the first time he had been seen in public since his arrest. He remains in detention.

We condemn the detention of Tammo and other Syrian prisoners of conscience and call for their immediate and unconditional release by the Syrian government. We encourage the international community to join us in calling on the Syrian government to stop its policy of arresting critics of the regime and to comply with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

2008/671

Released on August 29, 2008

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