Three-Year Sentence for Syrian Blogger Tariq Baiasi
On Sunday 11-5-2008 the State Security Court in Damascus stated its verdict on the Syrian blogger Tariq Baiasi who was held in detention since 7-7-2007. Tariq was detained for leaving a comment on websites disfavored by the Syrian government. Free Tariq Campaign condemned the State’s verdict and asks for freedom to the Syrian blogger:
The State Security Court in Damascus has sentenced Tariq to three years after lessening it from six years to three years (originally, Tariq received three years for each of the following charges):
1- Dwindling the national feeling.
2-Weakening the national ethos.
The militarily security arrested Tariq on 7-7-2007 for leaving a comment on websites considered “suspicious” by the Syrian government.
Since Tariq’s family and their lawyer were reluctant to comment on the State’s verdict, we wish that the human rights’ NGOs uncover details about this news.
Meanwhile, we put in your hands the following report published on 23-2-2008 by Sawasiya which briefly talks about Tariq’s case:
Syrian Human Rights Organization (Sawasiya):
On 18-2-2008 the Supreme State Security Court had interrogated Tariq Biasi (1984) who was arrested on 7-7-2007 after charging him with “dwindling the national feeling” and “weakening the national ethos” based on Articles 286-285.
Tariq who was arrested because of a comment left on websites considered “suspicious” by the Syrian government, denied leaving the comment and stated that he saw it only after his arrest. He also asserted that the land line, through which the website was accessed, is not his but for a doctor (there are seven branches for this line and while all of them are used, one of them is used for an internet café).
Tariq explained that he works in computer business and he has nothing to do with politics or anything of the like. His trial was adjourned till 17-3-2008 for the Attorney General to state its demands.
Damascus 23-2-2008
The Syrian bloggers continue to call for freedom to fellow blogger Tariq Baiassi.
You can find the Free Tariq campaign by clicking here for an English version, and here for the Arabic.
Related posts:
Syria: Syrian Bloggers Campaign to free Syrian Blogger Tariq Baiasi
It Could Be You: Release Syrian Blogger Tariq Baiasi
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Hi Razan, thank you for the information, do they have access to Internet in jail? because the petition provided a a space for sending a comment to Tariq. I hope he is released soon. Poor thing, I didn’t know he was just complainign about the laws and restrictions of Internet, i guess in that case we should all go to Jail. I guess very soon bloogers are going to flood the jails, really:)