Islamic Party Members Sentenced

The Supreme State Security Court in Damascus has jailed two Muslim activists, the Damascus-based National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria reported on May 5.



The court sentenced Ismail al-Sheika to 12 years in prison for being a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. It issued a death sentence before immediately commuting it to a penal term.



Abdul Rahman Yousfan was given four years in prison for belonging to a radical Sunni Salafi group.



The court postponed the trials of five other Salafis until late May and June. It also delayed the trials of Omar Marzook, accused of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Mohammed Hmood al-Ibrahim, who will stand trial for belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Islamic Liberation party. Both will be tried in June.



The National Organisation for Human Rights called on the government to try the accused in civilian courts and to abolish the security court, which was set up under emergency laws 44 years ago and affords defendants fewer rights. The organisation also asked the government to stop applying a law sanctioning the execution of Muslim Brotherhood members.