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The Syrian Government Should Conduct Fair Investigations Concerning the Assault against an Iraqi Journalist
Cairo 9th Aug 2007 The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (HRINFO) said today that the Syrian government should start a fair and honest investigation concerning the assault against Iraqi journalist Saif al-Khayat who suffered serious violations at the hands of Syrian Political Security Forces before he was ordered to leave Syria in mid-June. Journalist Saif al-Khayat had traveled to Syria to work as one of the Japanese news agency Jiji Press team. The Japanese news agency submitted an official application to establish an office in Damascus. Syria's Political Security questioned Al-Khayat more than once about the nature of his journalism work, his "political positions" and previous work in Iraq before he was allowed to stay in Syria. However, after having written two news reports about the presidential referendum in Syria a number of Syrian Political Security personnel attacked his apartment and arrested him on 19 June. He was taken to a headquarters of the Political Security -"Branch 701"- where he was physically assaulted because of the mentioned two reports that were not "satisfactory" to the Syrian Security apparatus. Al-Khayat was then forced to sign a paper stating he would leave Syrian within three days. Al-Khayat told HRINFO that "there was an premeditated intention to punish me for what I have written because although I tried to give the answers I thought they wanted to their strange and illogical questions I was still subjected to a violent and vicious physical assault. After the investigation and beating were over I was ordered to sign a statement promising to leave Syrian within three days." No investigation has been ordered so far although the Japanese agency submitted an official complaint requested an investigation of the incident involving the physical assault against the Iraqi journalist as if it were a worthless matter. HRINFO Executive Director Gamal Eid said that: "Although assaults against journalists are common in the Arab world they should not be acceptable or taken lightly. The assault against Al-Khayat affirms the Syrian government's animosity and hatred towards independent journalism." |
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