Muhannad al-Hassani was convicted of 'weakening national sentiment.'
Muhannad al-Hassani, who in May won the prestigious 2010 Martin Ennals Award recognizing the work of human rights defenders, was convicted by a Damascus court today.
The charges were brought against him after he drew public attention to unfair trials of political prisoners before the notorious Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) and a death that may have been caused by torture or other ill-treatment in detention, and met foreign embassy officials to discuss human rights.
The Damascus Criminal Court sentenced al-Hassani to three years in prison after convicting him of “weakening national sentiment” and “conveying within Syria false news that could debilitate the morale of the nation”– vague and broadly-drawn catch all charges that are regularly used by the Syrian authorities to jail peaceful critics and individuals who promote human rights in the country.
He is a prisoner of conscience who has done no more than stand up for the human rights of those who fall foul of the Syrian authorities and expose unfair trials and other abuses.
Amnesty International condemns the three year prison sentence imposed today and is calling for al-Hassani’s immediate and unconditional release.
How characteristic of the nationstate & its split nature, that the very exercise of the rights & duties of its citzenship are outlawed by it!
This perhaps is what Hannah Arendt characterised "The Decline of the Nationstate, & the End of the Rights of Man."
How characteristic of the nationstate & its split nature, that the very exercise of the rights & duties of its citzenship are outlawed by it!
This perhaps is what Hannah Arendt characterised “The Decline of the Nationstate, & the End of the Rights of Man.”
The immature Syria continues to disappoint and surprise those of us who live in mature democracies. I am afraid there will be other Muhannad al-Hassani's before Syria becomes a true nation state.
The immature Syria continues to disappoint and surprise those of us who live in mature democracies. I am afraid there will be other Muhannad al-Hassani’s before Syria becomes a true nation state.
Now, dear Mr Smith,
while Syria doth wrong her citizens, methinks the mature democracies doth wrong her even more.
Give back unto Syria the things that are Syria's, & you will see she will start to heed your own example.
Now, dear Mr Smith,
while Syria doth wrong her citizens, methinks the mature democracies doth wrong her even more.
Give back unto Syria the things that are Syria’s, & you will see she will start to heed your own example.