Syrian Arab Republic: Visits & Communications
Correspondence from 2007
The record of correspondence for 2007 is excerpted from the official United Nations report, A/HRC/4/20/Add.1.
Syrian Arab Republic: Honour Killing of Huda Abu Assaly
Violation alleged: Impunity for honour killings
Subject(s) of appeal: 1 female
Character of reply: No response
Observations of the Special Rapporteur
The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has failed to cooperate with the mandate that he has been given by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights.
Urgent appeal dated 22 August 2006
I am writing in relation to information that I have received about a continuing pattern of honour killings in the Syrian Arab Republic in which women are killed by a family member, usually because she has married outside her religion or because of suspicions of sexual impropriety. Most recently, I have received information regarding Huda Abu Assaly, who was stabbed and shot to death by her brother in late August for having married a Christian man.
While I do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, there would be ground for serious concerns if they were correct. To the extent that honour killings are not met with stringent punishments, the State acquiesces in the practice. As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Syrian Arab Republic has assumed the legal obligation to ensure the right to life by effectively punishing those who commit murder. Article 6(1) recognizes that every human being has the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life. Article 2(1) requires the State to ensure to all individuals within its territory the rights recognized in ICCPR, without distinction as to sex. Article 2(2) elaborates that each State Party must undertake all necessary steps to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in the ICCPR. These obligations are not mere formalities: The punishments imposed may not be so lenient as to invite future violations. As I noted in my report to the Commission on Human Rights, “Crimes, including murder, can also give rise to State responsibility in instances in which the State has failed to take all appropriate measures to deter, prevent and punish the perpetrators. . . .” (E/CN.4/2005/7, para. 71.)
In this context, I urge your Government to take all necessary measures to prevent and punish honour killings.
While I do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of the facts reports in this incident, it is my responsibility under the mandate provided to me by the Commission on Human Rights to seek to clarify all cases brought to my attention. Since I am expected to report on these cases to the Commission I would grateful for your responses to the following questions:
- Are the facts alleged in the above summary accurate?
- Please provide the details and results of any investigation, medical examination (autopsy), and judicial or other inquiries carried out in relation to this incident.
- Please provide the full details of any prosecutions or disciplinary proceedings that have been undertaken in connection with this incident. Please include information on any penalties imposed.
- If compensation has been provided to the family of the victim, what was its amount?
I undertake to ensure that your Government’s response to each of these questions is accurately reflected in the report I will submit to the Commission on Human Rights for its consideration.
Correspondence from 2006
The record of correspondence for 2006 is excerpted from the official United Nations report, E/CN.4/2006/53/Add.1.
Syrian Arab Republic: Events of March 2004
Violation alleged: Deaths due to the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials
Subject(s) of appeal: 42 persons (members of an ethnic minority; more than 2 minors)
Character of reply: Cooperative but incomplete response
Observations of the Special Rapporteur
The Special Rapporteur appreciates that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic provided additional information following his request. (See E/CN.4/2005/7 Add 1.Parag. 697). However, the SR notes that no information has been received clarifying the allegation that 40 Syrian Kurds were killed by security forces at a 12 March 2004 football match. The SR also notes that the information provided regarding the deaths of Hussein Nouri and Badry Shaheen does not reflect a thorough investigation which would, in part, identify who fired the shots and their justification for doing so.
Allegation letter sent on 26 May 2004, reproduced from E/CN.4/2005/7 Add 1.Parag. 695
695. Allegation, 26 May 2004. 40 Syrian Kurds, (among whom were many children), who were attending a football match on 12 March 2004, were killed by security forces, while over a hundred spectators were injured near the Turkish- Iraqi border in an operation where security forces made excessive use of force. Following this incident, clashes between Syrian Kurds and Syrian security forces broke out in different Kurdish cities, including Qameshli, Allepo, al- Hassaka and Damascus. Hundreds of Kurdish men, including children, were arrested at their homes and were held incommunicado where concerns for their safety were expressed. In addition, on 13 March 2004, the police attacked mourners attending the funerals of those killed. This led to two days of protests and rioting in various towns in north-eastern Syria, including al- Malikiya, al-Qahtaniya and ‘Amouda. Hussein Nouri, aged 16 and Badry Shaheen, aged 6, were shot dead by the security forces that opened fire at protesters who were throwing stones at the Military Intelligence and State Security buildings in al-Malikiya.
Response of the Government of Syria dated 16 September 2004, reproduced from E/CN.4/2005/7 Add 1.Parag. 696
696. Response dated 16 September 2004 According to the Government of Syria, the persons in questions were arrested following disturbances that took place in the governorate of hassakah. The vast majority of those arrested were released after questioning, while the remainders were referred to the competent court pursuant to the laws on riotious assembly, sabotage and damage to public property, and were tried for commiting acts of sabotage against public institutions and installations. None of them was subjected to torture or ill- treatment and all the arrest, detention and trial procedures were carried out in accordance with the process of law, as defined in laws and regulations wich do not conflict with human rights.
Response of the Government of Syria received 2 February 2005
The events at the Qamishili football stadium began on 12 March 2004, when fighting broke out in the stands between the supporters of the Jihad and the Fatwa teams. The Jihad supporters started throwing stones at the Fatwa supporters and the police had to intervene to separate the two sides. Three children died in a crush on the way out of the stadium. On 13 March 2004, some Syrian Kurdish supporters of the Jihad team set fire to public and private property, including railway buildings, cultural centres, a centre selling animal fodder, silos, and customs points. They also went into schools and courts and set fire to court records, prompting the authorities to send out the police to quell the disturbance. In the ensuing exchange of fire, a number of persons on both sides were wounded and Hussein Noury and Badry Shaheen were killed. Everyone proved to have committed acts of sabotage, destruction or arson was brought before the courts, which are still hearing cases. The payment of compensation to the families of the victims is dependent upon the identification and criminal prosecution of the perpetrators of the acts in question. The cause of death was gunshot wounds and all the forensic procedures were carried out properly. The Government should like to point out that the fighting and clashes cannot be described as politically motivated or an attempt to assert the rights of Kurdish citizens. Kurdish citizens are an integral part of Syria’s national community. Indeed, Syria plays host to other Kurds who crossed into the country from Iraq and Turkey and enjoy all the rights guaranteed to their counterparts.
Correspondence from 2005
The record of correspondence for 2005 is excerpted from the official United Nations report, E/CN.4/2005/7/Add.1.
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Type, date and summary of communication: Allegation, 26 May 2004. 40 Syrian Kurds, (among whom were many children), who were attending a football match on 12 March 2004, were killed by security forces, while over a hundred spectators were injured near the Turkish-Iraqi border in an operation where security forces made excessive use of force. Following this incident, clashes between Syrian Kurds and Syrian security forces broke out in different Kurdish cities, including Qameshli, Allepo, al-Hassaka and Damascus. Hundreds of Kurdish men, including children, were arrested at their homes and were held incommunicado where concerns for their safety were expressed. In addition, on 13 March 2004, the police attacked mourners attending the funerals of those killed. This led to two days of protests and rioting in various towns in north-eastern Syria, including al-Malikiya, al-Qahtaniya and ‘Amouda. Hussein Nouri, aged 16 and Badry Shaheen, aged 6, were shot dead by the security forces that opened fire at protesters who were throwing stones at the Military Intelligence and State Security buildings in al-Malikiya.
Government reply: Response dated 16 September 2004 According to the Government of Syria, the persons in questions were arrested following disturbances that took place in the governorate of hassakah. The vast majority of those arrested were released after questioning, while the remainders were referred to the competent court pursuant to the laws on riotious assembly, sabotage and damage to public property, and were tried for commiting acts of sabotage against public institutions and installations. None of them was subjected to torture or ill-treatment and all the arrest, detention and trial procedures were carried out in accordance with the process of law, as defined in laws and regulations wich do not conflict with human rights.
Observation of the Special Rapporteur:The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its reply. He would appreciate receiving information on the allegations (stated in his letter) according to which 40 Syrian Kurds were reportedly killed during this football match.
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Type, date and summary of communication:Allegation sent wit the Special Rapporteur on torture, 18 November 2004. Ahmad Ma’mu Kenjo, a 37-year-old Kurdish died on 3 August 2004 from a brain hemorrhage resulting from severe head injuries in Ras al-‘Ayn, north-eastern Syria. It is alleged that Ahmad Ma’mu Kenjo was arrested on March 2004 without charges. He was detained incommunicado at an unknown location during April and May. The initial head wound- perpetrated by officers of Military Intelligence (al-Mukhabarat al-‘Askariya) or of Political Security (al-Amn al-Siyassi)- was said to have caused severe head pains and serious brain damage- as a result of which he was released. He died at home
Ahmad Husayn Hasan (named in some reports as Ahmad Husayn Husayn) died in custody due to torture at the Military Intelligence Branch in al-Hasaka, also in north-eastern Syria on 1 or 2 August 2004. He had been detained incommunicado since his arrest on 13 July 2004. Ahmad Husayn Hasan was from al-Malikiye (known as Deyrek in Kurdish) near the borders with Iraq and Turkey Military Intelligence officers told Ahmad Husayn Hasan’s family that his body was buried at Tel Ma’teb cemetery, without allowing anyone to see the body or to have a post-mortem conducted. Ahmad Husayn Hasan was never charged with an offence. He was a sympathizer of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, on organization closely linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Government reply: No response.
Correspondence from 1983-2002
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions has been corresponding with Governments regarding alleged violations since the mandate was established over two decades ago. While the Project on Extrajudicial Executions is making efforts to provide easily browsed versions of as many years as possible, much of the earlier correspondence is available only in the PDF versions of reports from 1983 to the present.