Emily Mader/ 6 February 2008/7:59pm/Human Rights
Recently, 13 pro-democracy activists were arrested and detained in Syria for their participation in a meeting on December 1, 2007. The reason for the arrested as stated by Syrian authorities are “spreading false or exaggerated news which would affect the moral of the country” and “inciting sectarian strife.” Syrian officials have come under harsh scrutiny for the alleged abuse of these detainees. There have been reports by eight detainees of harsh beatings and forced confessions during their imprisonment. Human Rights Watch has condemned Syrian authorities for this detention and abuse, stating that not only are the punishments too severe for the crime, but that no criminal act was committed in the first place.
As a United States citizen, I can say almost whatever I want wherever I want and not have to worry about being imprisoned, and after reading this article I realize how much I take that right for granted. Governments who silence their citizens are something to be feared and avoided. I think this is without a doubt a violation of human rights; people should not avoid speaking their minds for fear of being imprisoned. The fact that these men met peacefully makes their arrest completely unjustifiable. It would not be such an egregious misstep if they had been rioting, damaging property or hurting people, but they weren’t. These men were arrested solely for expressing their political ideas, and the fact that they were abused and forced to sign confessions only adds insult to injury.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gMSUX57tpTKmzkIWXZ-DYa_-CT9wD8UKBCQG0
1 comment:
I agree with you, because I too definitely take it for granted that I can do practically say anything I want. It really takes you back a bit when you realize a large portion of the world is afraid to speak what they truly feel because of what can happen to them in return. It is just crazy to imagine living in a place where you can be arrested for such a minor offense as this.
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