Opposition Leader's Trial Postponed

A judge has postponed the trial of Faiq al-Meer, a leading member of the opposition Syrian Democratic People's Party, until December 27, the Damascus-based National Organisation for Human Rights reported in a November 26press release.



Meer, who has been in custody since December 2006, is accused of plotting against the government, contacting parties hostile to the country, using offensive language about the regime and publicly opposing state policies.



The charges stem from his regular contact with the March 14 Group, an anti-Syrian organisation based in Lebanon.



The opposition National Organisation for Human Rights expects that Meer will be sentenced at the court’s next session. Judge Muhiyaddin al-Hallaq in Damascus is overseeing the case.



Separately, the organisation reported that the authorities briefly detained Syrian national Muhammed Nafi Aqil upon his arrival at Damascus airport from Spain, where he resides. Aqil, 73, was released after several hours.



Aqil left Syria 30 years ago after the authorities accused him of having ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Syrian embassy in Madrid had approved his return to the country.