BY FEDERAL EXPRESS
19 October 1999
His Excellency Hafez al-Assad
President of the Syrian Arab Republic
Presidential Palace
Damascus, Syria
Your Excellency:
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the extremely difficult
circumstances faced by Nizar Nayouf, the thirty-seven-year-old writer
and human rights activist who is serving a ten-year sentence in solitary
confinement in Mezze military prison in Damascus. According to
information that Human Rights Watch recently received, there is reason
to believe that Nizar Nayouf's health is again imperiled and that he may
urgently require chemotherapy for treatment of Hodgkin's disease.
Nayouf is one of five human rights activists who are imprisoned in
Syria. All five were affiliated with the Committees for the Defense of
Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria, a loosely organized
network of young activists that authorities arrested in late 1991 and
early 1992. Nayouf's colleagues -- Muhamed Ali Habib, Afif Muzhir,
Bassam al-Shaykh, and Thabet Murad -- are held in Sednaya prison. All
five men were sentenced in 1992 to eight to ten years by the Supreme
State Security Court for membership in an unauthorized organization,
among other offenses.
Human Rights Watch continues to appeal for the release of these human
rights defenders, whose only apparent offense was the peaceful exercise
of their right to freedom of expression and association, which in their
case included criticism of government policies and practices. With
releases earlier this year in Algeria and Tunisia, Syria is the only
country in the region where human rights activists are serving lengthy
prison terms.
Among the five Syrians, Nizar Nayouf's particular situation raises
humanitarian concerns. Last year, Human Rights Watch joined Arab human
rights organizations and other international groups in calling for
Nayouf's release on humanitarian grounds because he reportedly was
suffering from Hodgkin's disease and not receiving proper medical
treatment. Appeals were also made to Syrian authorities and
ambassadors abroad for independent medical experts to have access to
Nayouf in prison for the purpose of evaluating his health needs.
In response to this campaign, Human Rights Watch received a letter
from His Excellency Walid al-Moualem, Syria's ambassador to the United
States, dated December 10, 1998. In this letter, Ambassador Moualem
denied that Nayouf had Hodgkin's disease and wrote: "Rather, he is
suffering [from] hernia of nucleus pulposus [slipped disc]. The doctors
treating him have concluded that he did not require surgery, treatment
with medicines should be sufficient. His health condition has since
improved." But the information that we have recently received suggests
that Nizar Nayouf was in fact treated for Hodgkin's disease some time
early in 1999 and that he responded well to such treatment. However, it
now appears that medical tests performed in August 1999 indicated that
the disease had returned in full force, and that chemotherapy treatment
could prolong Nizar Nayouf's life.
Your Excellency, Human Rights Watch cannot independently confirm this
information, which is why we are writing to appeal to you to intervene
in this case and ensure that Nayouf is immediately released and is able
to receive the medical attention and treatment that he requires.
We hope that as an urgent matter you will direct responsible
authorities to make inquiries about the continuing reports that Nizar
Nayouf is suffering from Hodgkin's disease and that chemotherapy now may
be required to save and prolong his life. Human Rights Watch also
respectfully reiterates our earlier recommendation to Syrian authorities
that a team of independent medical professionals be permitted to visit
Nayouf in prison, review his medical files, and consult with the Syrian
physicians who have been providing him care and treatment. In our view,
such a mission would provide reassurances to all of those around the
world who remain deeply concerned about Nizar Nayouf.
We thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and your
appreciation of the humanitarian aspects of Nizar Nayouf's case.
Sincerely,
/s/
Hanny Megally
Executive Director
Middle East and North Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
cc:
General Mustafa Tlas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
His Excellency Nasser Qaddur, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Walid Al-Moualem, Ambassador to the United States
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