Political Detainees situation in Syria.

The international declaration of human rights (article 25) granted every person the right of a living standard, that ensures good health and provides him/her with an acceptable standard of living in cases of unemployment, illness, disability, etc.

Article 12 of the international convention on economic, social and cultural rights states that all countries parties of the convention acknowledge the rights of every person with the maximum possible standard of physical and mental health.

The constitution of World Health Organisation states that enjoying the maximum obtainable health standard is one of the dispensable human rights which should be provided to every person without any discrimination. The constitution defines health as the state of physical, mental and social safety, not merely the state of relief from illness and weakness.

Article 6 of UN document on the conduct of officials in charge of executing the laws states that these officials should ensure the full protection of the health of detainees in their custody and should take immediate action to provide medical care whenever needed.

All information available with the Syrian Committee of Human Rights confirm that most political detainees in Syrian prisons and in particular those detained in Tadmur (Palmyra) prison, although suffer of serious ailments, they are deprived from medical treatment and visits by doctors. Everyday some of these prisoners die and the prison’s office buries them without even informing their families of their death.

Ailments spread among detainees in Tadmur prison include tuberculosis, heart and artery diseases, digestive apparatus diseases ( i.e. ulcer, colitis, etc.), dermatoses, malaria, paralysis, diabetes, psychological and mental diseases, cancer, etc.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee learnt that the following detainees in Tadmur prison suffer from:

1. Ibrahim Hassan Aj’ouj a citizen of Hama suffers from tuberculosis
2. Abdul Samad Dakhil, dentist, a citizen of Deir Ezzour, suffers from a heart disease.
3. Ahmad Sameh Al-Ba’th a citizen of Idlib, suffers from Appendicitis
4. Yaser Amin Idlibi, university student, suffers from tuberculosis
5. Fakhr Nino, university student, suffers from tuberculosis
6. Mohammed Bashaar Bayanoni, student, citizen of Aleppo, suffers from tuberculosis
7. Hassan Mansour, university student, citizen of Idlib, suffers from tuberculosis and psychological disorder.
8. Bakri Fata Al-Nahaas, university student, citizen of Aleppo, suffers from tuberculosis

The Syrian Human Rights Committee appeals to all human rights organisations to request a visit to Tadmur prison in Syria accompanied by specialist doctors to be fully aware of the tragic situation of political detainees.

We, as well appeal to the international public opinion to intervene to put an end to the tragedy of political detainees in Syria.