Syria Investigating Prison Riot

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on July 22 that the Syrian government is investigating the riot earlier this month at a military prison outside Damascus.



The opposition group also confirmed that the authorities had regained control of the prison.



The riot broke out on July 5at the Saidnaya prison, used to house many individuals suspected or convicted of involvement with Islamic groups, as well as political dissidents. The disturbances lasted approximately ten days and at least a dozen prisoners were killed, according to human rights groups. The government has so far only acknowledged that a riot took place and that it was put down by the security forces.



The Syrian Committee for Human Rights reported on July 21 that the first body of a prisoner killed during the riot had been delivered to his family and buried.



Citing a source in the town of Arbin, a rural area outside Damascus where the prisoner’s family lived, the committee reported that security forces handed over the body of a man whose last name was given as Sino on July 16.



The man was arrested on charges of Islamic fundamentalism, together with another member of his family, in June 2006.



The committee said Sino was buried the same day with the funeral service heavily monitored by security forces. The circumstances of his death were unknown.