Syria: Harsh Verdicts Against Syrian Muslim Brothers

Syria: Harsh Verdicts Against Syrian Muslim Brothers

 Ismail El-Sheikhah received death sentence by the Syrian exceptional state security court after accusing him of membership in the Muslim Brotherhood. The court alleviated the ruling to 12 years with hard labor, fined him and deprived him from his civil rights. Abdulrahman Yusfan has been sentenced for four years, fining, and denial of civil rights, charged with being a member of the Salafi current.


On Monday and Sunday May 4,  2008, the court has investigated many detainees with Islamic orientations and postponed their verdicts.  The group includes Amr Razouq, accused of membership in the MB, and Mohamed Al-Ibrahim who is charged with memberhsip in the Liberation Party.


Spokesperson of the Syrian Committee for Human Rights (SCHR) commented on the rulings passed against the Islamists saying that the security campaign are constantly being tightened.


“Their charges have no basis in the Syrian law or judiciary. The Syrian regime has been applying emergency laws for 45 years to persecute the opposition. The Syrian authorities curb freedoms and ban any practice of religious activities or other assemblies related to societies or parties. Even traveling for treatment is banned,” he added.


In his statement to Ikhwanweb, spokesperson of the SCHR said “Such tyrannical practices of the regime may lead to provocation of Syrians” emotions, disintegration of society, and threatening the Syrian national unity, since the regime does not respect any law or international human rights agreements.”


He called for the annulment of extraordinary rulings against civilians due to their practice of freedom of expression and political practice, and for the release of all prisoners of conscience within Syrian prisons.