Dissidents tortured and killed in Syrian prisons, says Amnesty International
At least 88 people die in detention from beatings, burns, electric shocks and other abuse. This morning, troops move into Hama looking for anti-government activists. Protests break out in the country’s main cities for the end of Ramadan.
Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In the last five months, at least 88 people, including ten children, have died in detention in Syria from beatings, burns, electric shocks and other abuse, this according to a report by Amnesty International. The group believes all of those who died were arrested after taking part in anti-government protests. Meanwhile, this morning, Syrian troops, backed by tanks and buses raided the city of Hama looking for dissidents and activists.
Neil Sammonds, Amnesty's researcher on Syria, told the BBC, “these deaths behind bars are reaching massive proportions”. In fact, the human rights organisation knows of at least 3,000 people currently held for crimes of conscience. The volume of abuses, many of which have been documented on video and occurred near the cities of Homs and Deraa, have returned to levels seen in March, at the start of the Arab spring.
Deaths in detention have been reported in Damascus and four other governorates, Rif Damashq, Idlib, Hama and Aleppo.
Amnesty International’s report comes a day after the Syrian regime denied persistent reports of at least one mass grave being uncovered in the city of Deraa.
Accusations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad about violations have multiplied in recent days. However, Syrian authorities have prevented foreign journalists and observers from entering the country and there are no independent sources that can confirm the allegations of abuse.
In Hama, residents have denounced a series of actions by Syrian security forces this morning against anti-government dissidents and demonstrators. "Several light tanks and tens of small and big buses parked at Al-Hadid bridge at the eastern entrance of Hama. Hundreds of troops then went on foot into al-Qusour and Hamdiya neighbourhoods. The sound of gunfire is being heard," Abdelrahman, a local activist, told Reuters.
Street protests have also broken out in Syria’s main cities, especially in Damascus and Homs, to coincide with the end of Ramadan. "The people want the downfall of the president," protesters shouted in the capital.
For his part, the Syrian president insists on the legitimacy of the use of force and that the unrest is due to a plot to divide the country.
In the southern towns of al-Hara and Inkhil in the southern province of Deraa, security forces killed four people, including a 13-year-old boy.
Neil Sammonds, Amnesty's researcher on Syria, told the BBC, “these deaths behind bars are reaching massive proportions”. In fact, the human rights organisation knows of at least 3,000 people currently held for crimes of conscience. The volume of abuses, many of which have been documented on video and occurred near the cities of Homs and Deraa, have returned to levels seen in March, at the start of the Arab spring.
Deaths in detention have been reported in Damascus and four other governorates, Rif Damashq, Idlib, Hama and Aleppo.
Amnesty International’s report comes a day after the Syrian regime denied persistent reports of at least one mass grave being uncovered in the city of Deraa.
Accusations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad about violations have multiplied in recent days. However, Syrian authorities have prevented foreign journalists and observers from entering the country and there are no independent sources that can confirm the allegations of abuse.
In Hama, residents have denounced a series of actions by Syrian security forces this morning against anti-government dissidents and demonstrators. "Several light tanks and tens of small and big buses parked at Al-Hadid bridge at the eastern entrance of Hama. Hundreds of troops then went on foot into al-Qusour and Hamdiya neighbourhoods. The sound of gunfire is being heard," Abdelrahman, a local activist, told Reuters.
Street protests have also broken out in Syria’s main cities, especially in Damascus and Homs, to coincide with the end of Ramadan. "The people want the downfall of the president," protesters shouted in the capital.
For his part, the Syrian president insists on the legitimacy of the use of force and that the unrest is due to a plot to divide the country.
In the southern towns of al-Hara and Inkhil in the southern province of Deraa, security forces killed four people, including a 13-year-old boy.
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See also
More dissidents arrested in Damascus
01/02/2008
01/02/2008
