Syria: The Price Of Defending Human Rights
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International *
19 August 2002
Amnesty International today strongly condemned the sentencing today of human rights defender and lawyer Habib 'Isa to 5
years' imprisonment for his activities in defence of human rights. Habib 'Isa was charged among other things with
"attempting to change the Constitution by illegal means".
"This sentence is the result of a grossly unfair trial and is intended to halt Habib 'Isa's activities as a human
rights defender and lawyer," Amnesty International said, recalling Habib 'Isa's involvement in the defence of Syrian
prisoners of conscience. The organization considers Habib 'Isa to be a prisoner of conscience himself, and is calling
for his immediate and unconditional release.
Amnesty International considers trials before the SSSC to be grossly unfair. There is no right for appeal and
"confessions" extracted under duress are accepted as evidence.
Background Fifty-six year old Habib 'Isa was arrested at his home in Damascus on 12 September 2001 as part of a
crackdown on opposition political activists and members of the newly emerging human rights movement. He was one of the
defence lawyers for former parliamentarian and prisoner of conscience Riad Seif, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison
on 4 April 2002 following an unfair trial before the Criminal Court in Damascus. Habib 'Isa is also one of the founding
members of the Human Rights Association in Syria.
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