Prominent Prisoner Released

Syrian human rights groups and activists welcomed the release of a prominent intellectual Aref Dalilah, who was freed from prison on August 7 after serving seven years of a ten-year sentence.



Dalilah, who human rights groups described as a prisoner of conscience, was released under a presidential amnesty without explanation.



Human rights groups say he is in poor health after spending most of his prison time in solitary confinement. The opposition Damascus Declaration group released a statement on its website speculating that Arab and international pressure also helped to secure Dalilah’s freedom.



Dalilah was arrested on September 9, 2001 along with nine other activists who were calling for democratic reform following the death of former Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad the previous year.



Dalilah, an economics professor and an outspoken critic of corruption in Syria, was convicted by the supreme state security court in July 2002 on charges of attempting to change the constitution by force, weakening national sentiments by distributing false news and instigating racial and sectarian tensions.



International and Syrian human rights groups said Dalilah’s health deteriorated after he suffered a stroke two years ago.



In an article published on the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights opposition website, activist Jihad Saleh asserted that in “civilised countries” individuals such as Dalilah are honoured not persecuted, for their work.



Pro-government websites briefly mentioned Dalilah’s release. The official press did not publish the news.