Abduction and incommunicado detention of Ms. Catherine Altalli

SYR006 / 0511 / OBS 075

Abduction / Incommunicado detention /

Fear for psychological and physical integrity

Syria

May 16, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights(FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Syria.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sourcesabout the abduction and incommunicado detention of Ms.Catherine Altalli, a lawyer and human right defender who has been involved since 2007 in the defence of numerous politicalprisoners before Syrian courts.

According to the information received, on May 13,2011, at around 4 pm, Ms. Catherine Altalli wasforced out of a minibus in Barzeh, Damascus, by members of the security forces whoarrested her and brought her to an unknown destination. Since then, noinformation could be obtained on her whereabouts and condition.

The Observatory is deeply concerned by Ms. CatherineAltalli's abduction and incommunicado detention, which seem to merely aim at sanctioning her human rights activities, and fears for her physical and psychological integrity amid the current general crackdown against peaceful protesters by army and security forces in Syria since March 16, 2011. The Observatory callsupon the Syrian authorities to take prompt action in order to disclose Ms.Catherine Altalli’s whereabouts and release her immediately.

The Observatory further calls upon the Syrian authoritiesto take prompt action in order to immediately and unconditionally release allhuman rights defenders presently detained in the country.

Actions requested:

Please write to the Syrian authorities, urging themto:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances thephysical and psychological integrity of Ms.Catherine Altalli;

ii. Take prompt action in order todisclose the whereabouts of Ms. Catherine Altalli and immediate and unconditionally release her, as it seems to merelyaim at sanctioning her human rights activities;

iii. Put an end to any actsof harassment and intimidation against all human rights defenders in Syria;

iv. Conform with the provisions of theUN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly ofthe United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially:

- its Article 1, which states that“everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, topromote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights andfundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;

- its Article 6 (b) and (c), whichstates that “everyone has the right, individually and in association withothers […] as provided for in human rights and other applicable internationalinstruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views,information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms and[...] to study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in lawand in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, throughthese and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters”;

- and its Article 12.2, which providesthat “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection bythe competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association withothers, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adversediscrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of hisor her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the presentDeclaration”;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respectfor human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with internationalhuman rights standards and international instruments ratified by the SyrianArab Republic.

Addresses:

· President, His Excellency Bashar al-Assad, Presidential Palace, alRashid Street, Damascus, Syria Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 332 3410

· Minister of Defence, His Excellency General, Ali Habib Mahmud, Ministryof Defence, O mayyad Square, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 2237842

· Minister of Justice, His Excellency Mr. Tayzeer Qala Awwad, Ministry ofJustice, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +963 11 666 2460

· Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Wallid Mu’allim, Ministryof Foreign Affairs, al-Rashid Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, Fax: +96311 332 7620

· Ambassador BasharJa'afari, Permanent Mission of the SyrianArab Republic to UN in Geneva, 72 rue de Lausanne, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland,Fax: +41 22 738 42 75, Email: mission.syria@ties.itu.int

· Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Brussels, 1 avenue F.D.Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 554 19 22; Fax: +32 2 648 14 85

Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassyof the Syrian Arabic Republic in your respective country.

***

Paris-Geneva, May 16, 2011

Kindlyinform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in yourreply.

Tocontact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

• E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 2518 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

• Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29