A Syrian Supreme court sentenced seven human rights defenders to between five and seven years' imprisonment on 17 June 2007 for allegedly taking part in a pro-democracy discussion group and publishing articles on the internet which criticized the lack of democracy and freedom in Syria.

Tareq al-Ghourani (21) and Maher Ibrahim Esber (26), were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and Husam Melhem (22), Allam Fakhour (29) Ayham Saqr (31), Omar al-Abdullah (21), Diab Siriyeh (21), to five years' imprisonment, on charges of carrying out activities or making written statements or speeches that expose Syria to the risk of hostile operations.

Husam Melhem, Tareq al-Ghourani, Ayham Saqr, Allam Fakhour Maher Ibrahim Esber, Omar al-Abdullah, and Diab Siriyeh were all arrested between 26 January 2006 and 18 March 2006 by the Syrian Air Force Intelligence. They have been detained incommunicado, denied access to their lawyers and prohibited from having any contact with their families. They have reportedly also been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while detained.

On 24 April 2007, prominent Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni was sentenced to five-year imprisonment on charges of disseminating “false information harmful to the state” and membership of an illegal political organisation. Shortly before his arrest on 17 May 2006, Anwar al-Bunni signed a petition known as the “Beirut-Damascus Declaration”, which calls for improved relations between the Governments of Syria and Lebanon. Three hundred Lebanese and Syrian intellectuals and human rights defenders also signed the petition.

Front Line believes that these seven human rights defenders have been targeted as a result of their peaceful and legitimate activities in defense of human rights and democracy.

Front Line urges the Syrian authorities to immediately release all seven human rights defenders and calls on the authorities to ensure that their treatment, whilst in prison, adheres to the “Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners” adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990.