The office of the human rights organisation, the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression (SCMFE), has been officially closed and sealed off by the Syrian security authorities on 13 September 2009. Human rights defender and president of the SCMFE, Mr Mazen Darwich had not received any official warning prior to the closure of the office, however, on 7, 9 and 10 September he was summoned by to the State Security Office in Damascus where security personnel pressured him to stop the activities of the SCMFE.

Further Information

After the closure of the office, Mazen Darwich received a call from the State Security Office that the next move against him would be judicial prosecution. The SCMFE monitors violations in the field of freedom of expression and provides legal and technical support to human rights defenders in Syria. In May 2009, Mazen Darwich conducted a study on the use of travel bans in Syria based on which Front Line published a joint report with SCMFE on the use of travel ban against human rights defenders. See Original Front Line Report here.

The SCMFE has consistently been denied registration by the Syrian authorities, as with all other independent human rights groups in Syria. The first office of the SCMFE was closed in June 2006.

Front Line is concerned about the closure of the SCMFE office and the ongoing harassment and possible judicial prosecution against its president, Mazen Darwich. Front Line believes that the SCMFE and its president are being targeted solely for their legitimate work in defence of human rights, specially in freedom of expression and the press.

Front Line calls upon the authorities in Syria to:

1. Reverse the order of closure of the office of the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression (SCMFE), as Front Line believes the SCMFE has been targeted solely as a result of its legitimate human rights activities;

2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the harassment against SCMFE president, Mazen Darwich, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of Mazen Darwich;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and organisations operating in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.