Jihan Omar Mohammed was apparently detained on 17 June 2007. She suffers from health problems and was arrested at her doctor's clinic in downtown Afrin.

Result of DI Action:

• On January 7, 2008, the Syrian authorities released Jihan Omar.

Information about the campaign: 

NAME: Jihan Omar Mohammed

SEX: Female

AGE: 21

AUTHORITIES: Syrian

CATEGORY: Fear of torture and other ill-treatment/incommunicado detention/Prisoners of conscience/medical concern

PICTURE:

Prisoners of conscience: Jihan Omar

THE CASE:

Jihan Omar Mohammed was apparently detained on 17 June 2007. She suffers from health problems and was arrested at her doctor's clinic in downtown Afrin. She is believed to be held incommunicado, reportedly by State Security (Amn Al-Dawla), which puts her at grave risk of torture and/or other forms of ill-treatment. Besides her arrest will have possible negative impact on her health condition and make it worse.

Defend International believes that Jihan Omar Mohammed is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Syria must uphold its obligations as defined in the Covenant, including the right to freedom of expression. Defend International calls upon the Syrian authorities to release Jihan Omar Mohammed, immediately and unconditionally.

Defend International urge the Syrian authorities to make immediate arrangements for Jihan to get her medical treatment as soon as possible.

Moreover Defend International has received information about mass arrests in the city Afrin. According to several sources, the fate of a sixty-five years old man is still unknown.

RECOMMENDED CAMPAIGN: Please send the following appeals to arrive as rapidly as possible.

COPIES: Can be send to the diplomatic representatives of Syria accredited to your country.

With thanks and appreciation

Defend International

ـــــــــــــــــ

His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad

President of the Republic

Presidential Palace

Al-Rashid Street

Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic

Fax: +963 11 332 3410

Your Excellency,

I write to express my concern to learn that the young woman Jihan Omar Mohammed was reportedly detained on 17 June 2007, and is now held at an unknown location. I would like to point out that the young woman has several health problems and was captured while visiting her doctor's office.

I am also concerned that she is detained incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. I urge you to ensure that Jihan Omar Mohammed is not tortured.

Furthermore I call on you to release Jihan Omar Mohammed immediately and unconditionally unless she is charged with a recognizable criminal offence and given a fair and prompt trial.

I would like to remind the authorities that Jihan Omar Mohammed must be given immediate access to a lawyer of her own choosing, her family and any medical treatment she may require.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,