A/HRC/4/41
page 84
Syrian Arab Republic
Number of
outstanding
cases at the
beginning of
the period
under review
15
Cases transmitted to the Government
during the period under review
Cases sent under
Cases sent under
the urgent action
the standard
procedure
procedure
1
Number of cases on which the
Government has replied
2
0
Cases clarified during the period under
review by:
Government
Non-governmental
sources
0
Multiple replies on some cases
General allegation
Prompt intervention letter
Working Group request for a visit
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0
Number of
outstanding
cases at the
end of the
year under
review
16
Number of cases of possible clarification
by Government (6-month rule)
N/A
Government response
Government response
Government response
N/A
N/A
N/A
Urgent actions
408. The Working Group transmitted one urgent action to the Syrian authorities
on 12 April 2006. The case concerned Mohammad Al-Abdullah, who was reportedly abducted
from his home in the city of Qatana on 23 March 2006. The Syrian Army was alleged to be
responsible.
Information from the Government
409. The Government sent responses concerning the cases of two men. The first concerned a
Lebanese national who disappeared on 1 April 1998. The authorities reported on 13 April 2006
that the subject had been released on 13 November 2005 under a political amnesty declared by
the President of the Republic.
410. Regarding the case of a Lebanese male who reportedly disappeared on 1 January 1994
and was last seen at the interrogation section in a prison in Damascus, the Government reported
that the subject was abducted by the Union of People’s Forces organization and that he has “not
been heard from since”.
411. The Working Group decided that the information provided was not sufficient to clarify
the cases. Two communications from the Government, both dated 10 July 2006, could not be
translated by the United Nations translation services in time for consideration by the Working
Group for inclusion in the present report.
Information from sources
412.
No information was received from sources regarding outstanding cases.
Summary of the situation prior to the period under review
413. The majority of the cases of disappearance reported to the Working Group in the past
occurred between 1980 and 1994. The security forces or military intelligence were allegedly
responsible. Among the victims were students, medical doctors, military personnel and an artist.
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