The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) call on the Syrian authorities to disclose the whereabouts of human rights defender, Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad, and grant his family and lawyer immediate access to him.
Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad is the director of the Syrian Democratic Institute and has been involved also in aid efforts in the context of the conflict in Syria.
On 8 December 2013, he was arrested at the immigration office, close to the Syrian-Lebanese border, by members of the governmental security forces while he was heading to Beirut. He has since been denied access to lawyers and to his family. Reports confirmed that, so far, no specific charges have been brought against him. However, other unconfirmed reports suggest that he has been subjected to severe torture by the security forces while in detention.
EMHRN and GCHR believe that the arbitrary detention of Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad is directly related to his peaceful and legitimate humanitarian activities. In view of reports of Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad’s severe torture and the fact that his whereabouts are still unknown, we are gravely concerned for his physical and psychological integrity and believe that this is part of a campaign to restrict legitimate humanitarian work in Syria.
The EMHRN and GCHR urge the Syrian authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally disclose the whereabouts of human rights defender Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad;
- Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad;
- Immediately ensure that Abdulhadi Sheikh Awad has an unfettered access to his lawyer and family;
- Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Abdulhadi Sheik Awad while he remains in detention;
- Ensure that thorough, impartial and independent investigations are carried out in relation to the torture allegations with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in line with international law and standards;
- Guarantee that all human rights defenders in Syria are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.