PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 24/025/2008

15 August 2008

Further information on UA 211/08 (MDE 24/022/2008, 31 July 2008) - Fear of torture and other ill-treatment

SYRIA Usama ‘Ashour (m), aged 48, Agronomist

Usama ‘Ashour was released on 13 August. He had been arrested on 29 July by the Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI) at his house in Aleppo city.

He is a member of the pro-democracy umbrella group Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC), and of the Committees for the Revival of the Civil Society, an unauthorised pro-reform network of Syrian people engaging in discussion of human rights and political issues.His arrest was linked to his participation in a DDDNC meeting on 1 December 2007.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.