William Hague urged to raise issue of human rights during visit to Syria

27 January 2011 Release time: immediate

UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has been urged by democracy campaigners not to avoid the issue of human rights during his official visit to Syria today, 27 January. In an open letter to the Foreign Secretary, Ribal Al Assad, Director of the Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria, says: “I hope that during your talks with leaders of the Syrian regime you will raise the matter of arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly with regard to the many peaceful poets, bloggers and human rights lawyers that have suffered so much for their basic rights of expression.” In the letter, Assad goes on to highlight assessments made by the Foreign Office in 2009, which stated that the UK government “remain deeply concerned about arbitrary arrests, intimidation, torture, travel bans, lack of freedom of expression, and lack of respect for the rights of the Kurdish minority." Mr Hague’s visit to Syria has been promoted on Twitter, and the Foreign Secretary has asked people to submit questions to him on the social networking site. Assad’s letter says that this is a luxury denied to the people of Syria, who are banned from using such websites. The Foreign Office notes that "the Syrian government monitors internet use closely. Internet cafés are a focus of the Syrian security services, which act to catch people who blog against the government." In a recent interview with Elaph, the influential Arab news website, Assad said that the Syrian authorities are still detaining people, violating human rights, banning websites, curtailing freedoms, and playing a major role in the spread of poverty, illiteracy and extremism. Assad called on the Syrian regime to begin a process of “national reconciliation” that would allow a plurality of political parties. The full text of Assad’s letter is published below. Dear Mr Hague I am pleased to see that you are travelling to Syria, and I hope that your visit will serve to raise global awareness of the great difficulties facing Syria today. In 2009, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK government said in its report on Syrian human rights that "We remain deeply concerned about arbitrary arrests, intimidation, torture, travel bans, lack of freedom of expression, and lack of respect for the rights of the Kurdish minority." I would like to ask you, Mr Hague, whether you uphold this assertion which was made under the previous Labour government. I am sure that human rights is not an issue whose significance alters according to changes of UK government, and I feel confident that you are fully aware of the appalling record on human rights that the Syrian regime works so hard to conceal. The Foreign Office report goes on to note that "the security services are pervasive in Syrian society. They monitor opposition figures, human rights lawyers and defenders. These groups are often subject to arbitrary arrest and detention." I hope that during your talks with leaders of the Syrian regime you will raise the matter of arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly with regard to the many peaceful poets, bloggers and human rights lawyers that have suffered so much for their basic rights of expression. Mr Hague, your visit to Syria has been promoted by the Foreign Office on Twitter, and you have encouraged people to ask you questions via the social networking site. I wish, desperately, that the leaders of the Syrian regime would engage so openly with their citizens. Indeed, I wish that the Syrian people were free to even use social networking sites. Your department's report notes that "the Syrian government monitors internet use closely. Internet cafés are a focus of the Syrian security services, which act to catch people who blog against the government." Mr Hague, I think you will agree with me that the internet has been one of the most remarkable tools for social and human development that the world has ever seen, and that the freedom to connect with the world is as much a fundamental right as the right to speak freely. I know that during your visit you will discuss regional issues, particularly Iran, whose relationship with Syria is deep and alarming. I expect also that you will discuss the recent uprising in Tunisia, and you will know that this was triggered by poor living standards and the unavailability of basic essentials. Mr Hague, whilst I am sure that it will be concealed from you, I can assure you that life for Syrians is tough. Too tough. I implore you to raise the issues of human rights, democratic renewal and internet freedoms. You have an opportunity to shine a spotlight directly into the heart of the Syrian regime, and if you do, then it is the Syrian people who will benefit. Yours sincerely Ribal Al-Assad Founder & Director, the Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria ENDS For media enquires contact Christian May of Media Intelligence Partners on 02030088147 or 07876708262, or email Christian.may@media-intelligence-partners.com Notes for Editors: The Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria (ODFS) is an independent body, which promotes democracy, freedom and human rights in Syria and the Middle East. ODFS researches and analyses current events and policy in Syria and the Middle East, and provides information to parliamentarians, civil servants, the media, think tanks, academics, students, the public and all other interested parties in Britain and around the world.

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