The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information received with concern the news of arresting Aktham Nau'ysa, a respected Syrian lawyer, human rights activist, and the chairman of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria on Tuesday 13th April 2004, by the Military Intelligence Branch at Lattakia.

     The arrest of Nau'ysa comes as an episode of a prolonged series of suppressing- liberties campaigns in Syria, clearly proves the falseness of the allegations of heading towards political reform, in a state having a bad file of respecting human rights and liberties.

     According to the information reported to HRINFO, the Syrian human rights activist, Nau'ysa, had been summoned by the Military Intelligence Branch at Lattakia, upon his presence, he was detained, and his cell phone stopped working. The officials of the Military Intelligence refused to give any information about him to his relatives, and also refused to deliver him the medicines his relatives tried to send to him, as he suffers repetitive heart attacks, so there is a worry about his health condition.

     Condemning the irresponsible practices of the Syrian Security, HRINFO calls upon the Syrian authorities to immediately release Nau'ysa, and all the prisoners of conscience. HRINFO affirms that the Emergency law enacted in Syria obstructing all the attempts of reform, might prevent Syrian people from enjoying some of their principal rights, but it will never deprive them of these rights.