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Former Syrian MP's life in danger
Syrian government must let Ryad Seif leave country for medical care
Cairo 14th Aug 2007
HRINFO urged the Syrian government today to allow former MP Ryad Seif to leave the country in order to seek medical care after he was diagnosed of cancer 2 months ago without receiving any medication due to the lack of it in Syria.
Ryad Seif was a former prisoner of conscience detained in 2001 while a member in the Syrian Parliament for covering a major corruption case regarding a cellular phones deal. The former MP was stripped out of the legally conferred impunity and protection .
Mr.Seif stayed behind bars for four years. despite his imprisonment he didn't stop calling for democratic reform in Syria which lead to a prohibition from traveling abroad, Mr.Seif was also banned from traveling abroad last year, while going for a surgery when the Syrian authorities refused to let him go .this arbitrary denial of his legal right to travel demonstrates a threat on his life due to his critical medical situation.
" every individual's right to travel and freedom of movement is a legal right according to the Syrian law and the international treaties signed by Syria and when this individual is an innocent former MP in need for urgent medical care, to prohibit him then from traveling abroad constitutes a crime , we mustn't allow it to take place" Said Gamal Eid, executive director of HRINFO.
HRINFO in its statement to the Syrian President Mr.Bashar el-Asad urges him to issue a decree to allow Mr.Seif to travel abroad and receive medical care at the expense of the Syrian authorities, without this step, any talks about reform in Syria would be just empty words, while in the same time jeopardizing Mr.Seif's life would be a crime that will hold the Syrian government accountable for ever.
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