Syria: Travel bans imposed against human rights defenders

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that travel bans have been imposed against human rights defenders Radif Mostafa, Mohanad Al Hosainey, Rasim Al Atasy, Mahmoud Maree, Ahmed Manjonah and Seren Khoury. Radif Mostafa is a lawyer and the chairperson of the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights. Mohanad Al Hosainey is a lawyer and the head of the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights (Sawasiah). Rasim Al Atasy is an engineer and the head of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Syria. Mahmoud Maree and Ahmed Manjonah are both lawyers with the Arabic Human Rights Organisation in Syria. Seren Khoury is an independent lawyer.

Further Information

Posted 20/05/2008 Between 19 and 23 May 2008, Radif Mostafa was prevented from participating in a workshop organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. On 21 May 2008, Mohanad Al Hosainey was prevented from taking part in an interview in Beirut about the situation of Syrian detainees in Saudi Arabia on Al A’lam satellite TV. Between 16 and 19 April 2008, Rasim Al Atasy, Mahmoud Maree, and Ahmed Manjonah were prevented from attending the general meeting of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights. Seren Khoury currently has a long-term travel ban imposed against him.

Front Line believes that travel bans have been imposed against human rights defenders Radif Mostafa, Mohanad Al Hosainey, Rasim Al Atasy, Mahmoud Maree, Ahmed Manjonah and Seren Khoury as a result of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned that these travel bans form part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Syria.