A human rights lawyer and founding member of the Syrian Human Rights Association, Anwar al-Bunni, was sentenced on 24 April 2007 by a Damascus Court to five-year imprisonment under Article 286 of the Syrian Penal Code, for disseminating “false information harmful to the state” and membership of an illegal political organisation

Anwar al-Bunni was initially arrested on 17 May 2006 and has reportedly been detained without private access to his legal representatives at 'Adra prison, where it is reported he has been subjected to ill-treatment and beatings Anwar al-Bunni was also involved in a European Union sponsored project to establish a centre for human rights training in Damascus. .

Front Line believes that Anwar al-Bunni has been targeted on the basis of his peaceful and legitimate activities in defence of human rights. Shortly before his arrest, Anwar al-Bunni signed a petition known as the “Beirut-Damascus Declaration” - signed by 300 Lebanese and Syrian intellectuals - calling for improved relations between the Governments of Syria and Lebanon.

Please send an appeal to the Syrian authorities urging them to immediately and unconditionally quash his conviction,