A/HRC/18/53 (b) Syrian penal code articles related to prohibiting people’s demonstrations and gatherings, articles number 335 and 339 as follows: • Article number 335: All persons present in a gathering which is not of a private nature in its purpose or final objective, in relation to the number of individuals invited or present, or in relation to the location of the meeting, if it is in a public location or a location of a possible public access or a location visible by the public, when the person utters a riot calls or song, or displays an emblem that carries the potential of disturbing public security, or if the person participates in any other riot, is punishable by the law with a month to a year imprisonment and a 100 Syrian pounds fine. • Article number 336: All rallies, or procession on public roads, or in location with public access is considered as a riot, and participants are punishable by the law with a sentence for one month to a year imprisonment. This applies to three or more people, with the intent to commit a felony or a misdemeanor, and if at least one of them carries a weapon. It applies to a gathering of seven or more people, with the intention to pressure the government into changing decisions or measures by means of public protesting. It also applies to a gathering of around 20 people, who adopt an appearance that might disturb public peace. • Article number 337: 1- When people gather as described above, a law enforcement representative warns them and asks them to disperse. 2- Participants who walk away before the warning of law enforcement representatives takes place are exempt from punishment adopted in these cases. It also applies to participants who immediately respond to law enforcement representative’s warning and never use their weapons nor commit other misdemeanors. • Article number 338: 1- If force has to be used to disperse a gathering, legal punishment is of two months to two years imprisonment for participants. 2- Those who use weapons, get a one to three years imprisonment sentence, in addition to a more severe punishment they might deserve. • Article number 339: 1- According to articles number 65, 82 and 88, related to misdemeanors mentioned in paragraphs 2 to 5 of this chapter, a possible sentencing could reach stripping participants of their civil rights, or a prohibition of residency within the country, or they might be expelled outside Syria. Despite the description of riots contained in the previous paragraphs, illegal gatherings, demonstrations, sabotage and horrors committed by armed terrorist groups against citizens, in addition to setting fire to governmental institutions and public service buildings, our Law enforcement agents continue to escort all peaceful demonstrations, whether it had obtained permission to demonstrate or not, they protect protestors participating in any peaceful demonstration, they accompany all peaceful participants throughout the whole period of a demonstration, and only leave when demonstrators willingly disperse, and everyone goes back home safely. But when a demonstration deviates toward 86