Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defender, Mr Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy, was convicted of defamation and served a prison sentence from 25 until 30 March 2009. Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy is a member of the board of directors of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights and an employee of the Ministry of Education in Syria.

Further Information

From 25 until 30 March 2009, Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy served a five-day prison sentence. The Ministry of Education had filed a case against him regarding an article he had written which was published on the internet on 12 December 2007. In the article, Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy criticised the education system in Syria. The case against him was submitted to court by the Aleppo Military Prosecution and Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy was charged with defaming a public authority under Article 378 of the Syrian Penal Code. On 22 April 2008, the military court sentenced him to 10 days' imprisonment. Following an appeal the sentence was reduced to 5 days.

Front Line believes that Ahmed Khalaf al-Hejjy has been targeted because of his work in the defence of human rights, especially the right to adequate education.