Human Rights in SyriaIn the early 1980's, Syria's powerful army and prevasive security apparatus crushed opposition to the regime of Hafez Asad with great violence, killing at least 10,000 citizens and jailing thousands more. This report charges that in the intervening years, the government's respect for fundamental human rights has barely improved. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Common terms and phrases
According agency Alawi Aleppo Amnesty Arab armed army arrested Asad Association authorities Ba'th Ba'th Party Ba'thist body Branch Brothers called cells censors censorship chief close Command Committee Communist Congress continued courts critical Damascus Defense discussion early elections Emergency especially estimated executions Fall forces foreign former French Front groups Hama head held hold human rights hundred important imprisoned independent Intelligence International interrogation Interview journalists June killed Kurdish Kurds late later lawyers leaders Lebanese Lebanon major March Middle East military Minister months movement Muhammad mukhabarat Muslim official opposition organizations Palestinian Party period persons political prisoners President pressure professional protest published recent regime Regional relations released remained reported rule security forces sometimes Soviet summer Syrian thousand torture Union United University Washington Watch workers Writers
Popular passages
Page 85 - racial discrimination' shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
Page 191 - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met at 2 pm, in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon.
Page 68 - ... the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the...
Page 27 - opposing the unification of the Arab states or any of the aims of the revolution or hindering their achievement."9 Almost any act of opposition could now be defined as illegal.
Page 44 - As of mid-iQgo he remained incarcerated in al-Mezze Prison. It would be easy to exaggerate the success of informers, surveillance, and the other information-gathering efforts of the intelligence system. In fact, limits exist and the system is far from omniscient. A casual visitor to Damascus cannot fail to notice the confusion at airport immigration, the piles of untouched official forms, and the dusty, unused computer terminal. Local security offices convey the same disorderly impression with their...
Page 158 - investigate crimes of bribery, imposition of influence, embezzlement, exploitation of office, and illegal profits.
Page 109 - Late that year, the Syrian army occupied and closed down seven newspapers and one magazine in West Beirut, including Lebanon's most famous newspaper al-Nahar, as well as L'OrientLe-Jour, al-Safir, and al-Muharrir. Only three pro-Syrian newspapers remained. The occupying forces are said to have removed files and equipment, including al-Nahar's...
Page 138 - Forcing the victim to stand in bare feet against a wall with the hands tied together above the head. The top of the victim's foot and toes are then crushed with the heel of a boot in a grinding motion; 17. Administering blows to the same areas of the victim's body (including the head) for prolonged periods with a long thin rod tipped with a metal ball; , 18.
Page 1 - ... citizens without charge, torture them during interrogation and imprison them without trial for political reasons. At least 7,500 political prisoners languish in Syrian jails. Syria is also a serious rights offender in Lebanon, where since 1976, its army has controlled more than half of the country. Using Lebanese proxy forces as well as its own army and security services, Syria has been responsible for widespread political imprisonment, torture and massacres of hundreds of innocent civilians.
Page 109 - The occupying forces are said to have removed files and equipment, including al-Nahar's modem printing presses.33 Syrian forces also arrested several journalists, including al-Safir editors Muhammad Mashmushi and Tawfiq Sardawi, both critics of Syrian intervention. They were subsequently imprisoned in Damascus. After a major protest campaign, the Syrians withdrew from the occupied publications, and two months later they released Mashmushi and Sardawi. But al-Safir and other newspapers got the message;...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Human Rights in Syria Middle East Watch report |
| Authors | James A. Paul, Middle East Watch (Organization) |
| Publisher | Human Rights Watch, 1990 |
| ISBN | 0929692691, 9780929692692 |
| Length | 254 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |