EOHR demands the release of the director of Al Hayat newspaper in Damascus

EOHR is deeply concerned at the imprisonment of Syrian journalist Ibrahim Hamidi, the director of Al Hayat newspaper in Damascus. EOHR urges the Syrian authorities to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression and opinion and to immediately release Mr Hamidi.

Mr Hamidi was prosecuted and imprisoned for the publication of an article concerning Syria’s preparations with the Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to receive Iraqi refugees in the event of a conflict in Iraq.

Despite the newspaper publishing a challenge to Mr Hamidi’s article, the Syrian authorities prosecuted him with inflicting harm to state national security. He was also charged with violating the Syrian publications law which sets a maximum of three years imprisonment for publishing false news. It is noteworthy that Mr Hamidi’s imprisonment comes shortly after Syria prevented the Egyptian journalist Magdi Mehana from accessing Syria on December 17, 2001 because of his controversial publications.

EOHR calls upon the Syrian authorities to declare the whereabouts of Mr. Hamidi and to release him. The creation and use of criminal law to penalize journalists represent a gross threat to their personal safety during the performing their jobs. Moreover, such penalties violate the principles of freedom of expression stipulated by the Syrian Constitution and international instruments that protect human rights.