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United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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Syria: military tribunal of journalist Mazen Darweish must be stopped
Cairo, March 20, 2008,
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information is really annoyed about the Syrian authorities insistence on proceeding the military tribunal against journalist Mazen Darweish the head of Syrian Center for Media & Freedom of Expression on charges of "libeling & defaming the state's bodies", as he published a featured report about the riots occurred in Damascus last January. In addition to his criticism of security bodies' failure in protecting citizens who were killed in these riots.
The Military Court convened for Darwesh on March 17, had adjourned the session till next April 15 as it will include witnesses hearing.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said that "conducting a military tribunal of a journalist with such shallow accusations, is really illustrating how journalists and human rights activists suffer from the autocratic government. This type of violations must be unmasked."
It is noteworthy to say that human rights activist and journalist Mazen Darwesh is targeted with a lot of harassments and security tracings because of his prominent activity related to defending freedom of expression in Syria. Last May 2007, He was prevented from travelling, then he was detained last January. However, security forces tried to exercise pressure on him to amend his featured report conducted about the riots of last January, and when he hurled rejection, they fabricated this unjust case against him which is considered a naked violation of freedom of press, besides the journalist's right to work without custody or observation imposed by security bodies.
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