More Activists Arrested

Syrian security authorities arrested the writer and activist Faiz Sara on January 4, the Syria News website reported the same day. Sara had recently participated in a meeting called by the Damascus Declaration for National Democratic Change. The arrest came two days after opposition leader Rashid al-Satoof was detained, presumably for the same reason.



The Syrian Human Rights Society called for the immediate release of both detainees.



The Syrian Organisation for Human Rights, meanwhile, noted that the arrests were carried out under a state of emergency law which violates international human rights principles to which Syria has recently signed up.



In December, the authorities arrested dozens of 30 members of the Damascus Declaration after the group held a meeting at the beginning of the month. Many of the detainees were later released, but the authorities continue to hold the head of the Damascus Declaration Council, Fida al-Hurani, and other leading figures such as Ahmad Tohme, Akram al-Bunni, Walid al-Bunni, Ali al-Abdullah, Yaser al-Utaibi, and Jabr al-Shoufi.