MDE 24/047/2006
Further Information on UA 175/06 (MDE 24/044/2006, 21 June 2006)
Incommunicado Detention/ Fear of torture or ill-treatment/Medical Concern
SYRIA : Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi (m) aged 62
28 June 2006
The Syrian authorities have reportedly confirmed that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi, an Iraqi with Danish citizenship, is in their custody but are not stating the reason for his detention or his whereabouts. Amnesty International however has received information that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi is being held at the Palestine Branch (Far’ Filistin) of Military Intelligence in Damascus. He is reportedly being held in a small cell with 25 other Iraqis. They are reportedly being routinely beaten and humiliated and fed meals consisting of four loaves of bread between them every other day. There are reports that at least one of the Iraqis has had their nails forcibly extracted. Amnesty International fears that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi and other Iraqi detainees are at risk of torture and ill-treatment. In addition, Amnesty International continues to be concerned about Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi’s health as he suffered a stroke last year.
Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi was detained at Aleppo airport in Syria on his way back from Iraq to Denmark on 6 June and not 7 June as reported previously. There are reports that a number of Iraqis were arrested at Aleppo airport at that time and an airport official has reportedly confirmed that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi was among those detained.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Torture is widespread in Syrian detention and investigation centres, particularly during pre-trial detention, and during periods of incommunicado detention. The Palestine Branch is renowned for subjecting detainees to very severe torture during interrogation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language :
To the Syrian authorities :
calling on the authorities to release Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi immediately and unconditionally unless he is charged with an internationally recognizably criminal offence and given a fair and prompt trial ;
expressing concern at reports that he continues to be held incommunicado, putting him at grave risk of torture or other ill-treatment ;
urging the authorities to ensure that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi is not tortured or ill-treated ;
reminding the authorities that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi must be given immediate access to a lawyer of his own choosing, his family and any medical attention he may require.
To the Danish authorities :
welcoming efforts already being made by the Danish authorities on behalf of Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi and urging them to continue to use their influence to secure his release.
urging the Danish authorities to use their influence with the Syrian authorities to ensure that Sa’ad Noori Hussain al-Jiburi is not tortured or ill-treated and is allowed visits from the Danish consulate or diplomatic staff ; his family, access to a lawyer of his choosing and any medical assistance that he may require.
APPEALS TO :
SYRIAN AUTHORITIES
President
His Excellency Bashar al-Assad
Presidential Palace
al-Rashid Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax : + 963 11 332 3410
Salutation:Your Excellency
Minister of Defence
His Excellency General Hassan Ali Turkmani
Ministry of Defence
Omayyad Square
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax : +963 11 223 7842
Salutation:Your Excellency
Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Walid Mu’allim
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
al-Rashid Street
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Fax : + 963 11 332 7620
Salutation:Your Excellency
DANISH AUTHORITIES
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Per Stig M¯ller
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asiatisk Plads 2
DK-1448 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Fax : +45 33 54 0533
Email : um um.dk
Ambassade de la République Arabe Syrienne
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 3
1050 Bruxelles
Fax : 02.646.40.18
Email : ambsyrie skynet.be
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 August.
Communication au réseau Actions Urgentes d’AIBF Juin 2006
La première action urgente lancée par Amnesty date du 19 mars 1973 suite à l’arrestation d’un professeur d’économie au Brésil, Luiz Rossi. Le bureau de la sécurité et de l’ordre public à San Paolo, fut submergé par une avalanche de lettres de membres d’Amnesty. « J’ai eu l’impression que le chef du bureau de la sécurité et de l’ordre public se sentait mal à l’aise et sous pression du fait de cette soudaine attention internationale à son égard » dira sa femme en 1996. À l’origine de cette action urgente, Scott Harrison et Ellen Moore, un couple établi à San Francisco qui redistribuait les fax et télégrammes reçus de Londres. À l’époque, il s’agit du seul bureau chargé de faire écho aux actions produites par le Secrétariat International à Londres. Pour en savoir plus sur leur histoire et les tous débuts des Actions Urgentes : http://www.amnestyinternational.be/...
Le bureau des actions urgentes d’Amnesty Belgique, grâce à vous, grâce à ses milliers de participants, continue ce travail crucial et important. Nous vous en remercions.
