Aktham Naisse wins Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders but still faces trial in April

Mr. Aktham Naisse

Front Line is delighted to learn that Mr. Aktham Naisse, President of the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDDLHR), has been awarded the 2005 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on 13th January. Mr. Aktham Naisse is one of the founding members of the CDDLHR, created in 1989.

As Front Line has documented in the past, Mr Naisse’s organization have been spearheading a nationwide campaign for political reform and respect for human rights and an end to the state of emergency which has been in force in Syria since 1963 and has led to arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and severe restrictions on basic human rights. In the course of Mr. Naisse’s work as a human rights defender he was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1992 after what was described as a grossly unfair trial. While in custody he was allegedly tortured and ill-treated. In 2004, the Syrian authorities reinvigorated their targeting of Mr. Naisse. He was arrested in April in connection with his opposition to the human rights violations carried out under the state of emergency. Having been charged with ‘opposing the objectives of the revolution’ Mr Naisse was released on bail in August.

Aktham Naisse's trial has been postponed once again until 24 April 2005. If he is found guilty, Mr. Aktham Naisse may be sentenced to 15-years of penal servitude. Mr Naisse is a worthy recipient of the 2005 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Front Line will be monitoring the forthcoming trial and calling for Mr. Naisse's request for the presence of international observers at his trial to be granted.