’WPC” ēÖń+Q”³zž ŃuņĮ…Å«“«z” ²šü»Õ&°E•CbÖR}źmWv"Æg~füķ~“N$-+3ˆSĻĒI`6shzīø‡7ų{£†:|ŲÆR]Y¶Ü—$µśĶālNšh,뀀›ž#U³k“T5®{8nd“ ąŻoŠŅxJ:źõ§s”P‚G_‚WŅlīMąĘ”z!ż¹Ą)dŠĆ›@)`ź\ć|Ŗ$GžüV=J®gŒd#*Š”ƒ{[Æ$rfó«gäÅP!Øšš-UöąNnq-™9w“ŅJs[£AR@īįHā¦x][č’‡ =å 3źZbņ]p@l6 ›y-±iøĀŁį«„ŚÄžvܦł^“܈ŗ”OųO|ƒ}‡Ü™š6œ3|ó¬ jģūėŃ“5Š ŅXǽ©ä ¦ŠM…ķaģŽ\P;Nt āI¹^ZEP“į®ųf)õŌfćU©Ä˜™Ć vӌpŃ,ęE]˹Ær::ńG?[~±S-PöS#2ō½2öKwŗ·ó %'7Ž&Öµ (ķŪ“źŽ&ą$2O)*xƙœ”¶xėØČų—rSO…Jļ"ŽĖ[ö ŗ«–=^WųM5#ÉęUNÆ %żN^ w4)8 m: 0:QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQf‹a˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnŲŚŲŚŚŲŲŚ0(@ųŠ Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXĒX5— 1®(4 List 3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,ŌTable_AŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡¼č‚»XXŌņ ņSYRIAN€ARAB€REPUBLICó óŌ#†XØX»¼č‚#ŌŠ ° ŠÓÓĢĢņ ņŌCEUS.,ŌFollow-up€-€State€ReportingŠ œģ Š€€€€€€€€€€€€(i)€€Action€by€Treaty€Bodies,€Including€Reports€on€Missionsó óŠ ˆŲ ŠĢņ ņCCPR€€A/58/40€vol.€I€(2003)Š ` ° ŠĢCHAPTER€VII.€€FOLLOW„UP€TO€CONCLUDING€OBSERVATIONSó óŠ 8 ˆ Šņņņ ņĢóóó ó...ņņŠ `  ŠOverview€of€the€application€of€the€follow„up€procedureóóŠ üL  ŠÓ  ÓĢ265.€€At€its€seventy„first€session,€in€March€2001,€the€Committee€began€its€routine€practice€ofŠ Ō$  Šidentifying,€at€the€conclusion€of€each€set€of€concluding€observations,€a€limited€number€of€priorityŠ Ą  Šconcerns€that€had€arisen€in€the€course€of€the€dialogue€with€the€State€party.€€The€Committee€hasŠ ¬ü  Šidentified€such€priority€concerns€in€all€but€one€of€the€reports€of€States€parties€examined€since€theŠ ˜č Šseventy„first€session.€€Accordingly,€it€requested€that€State€party€to€provide,€within€one€year,€theŠ „Ō Šinformation€sought.€€At€the€same€time,€the€Committee€provisionally€fixed€the€date€for€the€submissionŠ pĄ Šof€the€next€periodic€report.Š \¬ ŠĢ266.€€As€the€Committeeššs€mechanism€for€monitoring€follow„up€to€concluding€observations€was€onlyŠ 4„ Šset€up€in€July€2002,€this€chapter€describes€the€results€of€this€procedure€from€its€initiation€at€theŠ  p Šseventy„first€session€in€March€2001€to€the€close€of€the€seventy„eighth€session€in€August€2003.€€TheseŠ  \ Šare€described€session€by€session,€but€in€future€reports€this€overview€will€limit€itself€to€an€annualŠ ųH Šassessment€of€the€procedure.€Š ä4 ŠÓ8ÓĢņņĢŌ*ƒƒ34 ›ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#ƒŌŌ,@RRŌŌ,vRRŌŌ,bRRŌŌ,œ RRŌŌ+  ŌŠ 1'ØųØų €€‚‚ƒƒ„„1ŠState€partyŠ  Øų „„ŠDate€informationŠ Øų ŠdueŠ  ”ä „„ŠDate€reply€receivedŠ  Øų  „„ŠFurther€action€óóŠ :0Øų!  €€‚‚ƒƒ„„……:ŠņņSeventy„first€session€(March€2001)óóŠ € Š" Š...Š 4*l!¼#  €€‚‚ƒƒ„„4ŠSyrian€Arab€Š X"Ø$ Š€€RepublicŠ  D#”% „„Š6€April€2002Š  X"Ø& „„Š28€May€2002Š  X"Ø' „„ŠAt€its€seventy„sixth€session,€theŠ X"Ø( ŠCommittee€decided€to€take€noŠ D#”) Šfurther€action.Š$0$€*   $ŠŌUS.,CE.,¢ŌĢŠ  &X!+ ŠĢņ ņCCPR,€CCPR/C/SR.2392€(2006)ó óŠ œģ ŠĢHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEŠ tÄ ŠEighty„seventh€sessionŠ `° ŠSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€2392nd€MEETINGŠ L œ ŠHeld€at€the€Palais€Wilson,€Geneva,Š 8 ˆ Šon€Wednesday,€26€July€2006,€at€11€a.m.Š $ t ŠĢ...Š ü L  ŠĢFOLLOW„UP€TO€CONCLUDING€OBSERVATIONS€ON€STATE€REPORTS€AND€TOŠ Ō$  ŠVIEWS€UNDER€THE€OPTIONAL€PROTOCOL€(agenda€item€7)Š Ą  ŠĢ...Š ˜č  ŠĢņņReport€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€for€follow„up€on€concluding€observationsóóŠ pĄ Š(CCPR/C/87/CRP.1/Add.7)Š \¬ ŠĢÓ  Ó...Š 4„ ŠĢ[ņņMr.€RIVAS€POSADAóó,€speaking€as€Special€Rapporteur€for€follow„up€on€concluding€observations]Š  \ ŠĢ55.€€The€deadlines€set€at€the€Committeeššs€eighty„fourth€session€in€July€2005€for€the€submission€ofŠ ä4 Šadditional€information€had€just€passed€or€fell€that€week.€€Tajikistanššs€response€had€been€received€andŠ Š  Šwas€currently€being€translated.€€Reminders€would€be€sent€to€Slovenia,€the€Syrian€Arabic€Republic,Š ¼  ŠThailand€and€Yemen.Š Øų ŠĢ...Š €Š ŠĢĢŠ  D!” ŠĢņ ņŌUKUS.,ŌFollow„up€„€ReportingŠ œģ Šą  ą(ii)€€Action€by€State€PartyŠ ˆŲ ŠĢŌUS.,UK.,VŌCCPR€€CCPR/CO/71/SYR/Add.1€(2001)ó óŠ `° ŠĢņņComments€by€the€Government€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€on€the€concluding€observations€of€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠHuman€Rights€CommitteeóóŠ $ t ŠĢ1.€We€wish€to€reply€to€your€observations,€in€sequence,€as€follows:Š ü L  ŠĢParagraphs€1€to€4Š Ō$  ŠĢ2.€We€welcome€the€content€of€the€observations€under€the€heading€"Positive€aspects"€and€wish€toŠ ¬ü  Šemphasize€that€the€Government€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€has€always€paid€special€attention€toŠ ˜č  Šhuman€rights€and€shares€the€concern€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€of€the€United€Nations€in€thisŠ „Ō  Šfield.Š pĄ ŠĢParagraph€5Š H˜ ŠĢ3.€In€response€to€the€content€of€paragraph€5€of€the€Committee's€observations,€we€wish€to€reaffirm€thatŠ  p Šthe€laws€in€Syria,€which€always€reflect€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution,€take€the€articles€of€theŠ  \ ŠCovenant€into€consideration€and€in€no€way€tend€to€restrict€the€scope€of€application€of€the€articles€ofŠ ųH Šthe€Constitution€or€the€Covenant,€as€will€be€explained€in€detail€below.Š ä4 ŠĢParagraphs€6€and€7Š ¼  ŠĢ4.€Paragraphs€6€and€7€of€the€Committee's€observations€refer€to€the€fact€that€the€Emergency€Act€is€stillŠ ”ä Šin€force€in€Syria.€In€this€connection,€we€wish€to€point€out€that€article€4€of€the€Covenant€permits€theŠ €Š Šproclamation€of€a€state€of€emergency€in€time€of€public€emergency€which€threatens€the€life€of€theŠ l¼ Šnation.€We€would€ask€the€distinguished€members€of€the€Committee€whether€there€could€be€a€stateŠ X Ø Šof€emergency€which€threatened€the€life€of€the€nation€to€a€greater€extent€than€the€situation€that€IsraelŠ D!” Šis€creating€in€the€region.€In€fact,€Israel€is€occupying€the€Syrian€Golan€and€part€of€southern€Lebanon,Š 0"€  Šis€attacking,€killing€and€displacing€Palestinians€and€is€constantly€committing€acts€of€hostility€againstŠ #l! ŠLebanon,€as€attested€by€the€"grapes€of€wrath"€and€other€brutal€acts€of€aggression.€Israel's€recentŠ $X" Šattack€during€the€night€of€15€April€2001€(during€the€Easter€holiday€on€the€day€when€ChristiansŠ ō$D # Šcelebrate€Christ's€resurrection)€on€a€Syrian€radar€station€in€the€Bekaa€region€of€Lebanon€in€whichŠ ą%0!$ Šdozens€of€its€personnel€were€killed€or€wounded€illustrates€the€state€of€anxiety€and€tension€that€IsraelŠ Ģ&"% Šis€seeking€to€create€in€the€region,€and€particularly€in€Syria.€Since€he€came€to€power,€the€threats€thatŠ ø'#& Šthe€present€Prime€Minister€of€Israel€has€made€against€Syria€and€other€States€of€the€region€are€a€clearŠ ¤(ō#' Šindication€of€Israel's€intention€to€keep€the€entire€region€on€the€brink€of€the€abyss€and€to€create€anŠ )ą$( Šatmosphere€conducive€to€maintenance€of€the€existing€state€of€war.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ5.€How€can€the€Human€Rights€Committee€call€for€the€lifting€of€the€state€of€emergency€while€we€areŠ T,¤'+ Šfaced€with€these€exceptional€circumstances?Š @-(, Ї6.€Nevertheless,€it€should€be€noted€that,€for€many€years,€the€Emergency€Act€has€been€applied€onlyŠ ° Što€a€very€limited€extent€in€Syria€and€the€martial€law€decrees€filed€with€the€Ministry€of€the€InteriorŠ œģ Šhave€become€rare.€The€persons€who€are€detained€under€the€Emergency€Act€are€those€who€commitŠ ˆŲ Šserious€offences€such€as€murder,€sabotage,€armed€robbery,€the€establishment€of€criminal€gangs€andŠ tÄ Štransnational€drug€smuggling.€The€purpose€of€such€detention,€which€is€limited€to€a€maximum€ofŠ `° Šseven€days,€is€to€enable€the€security€authorities€to€mobilize€their€resources€in€order€to€arrest€theŠ L œ Šcriminals€and€bring€them€to€justice.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ7.€At€all€events,€the€decisions€of€the€martial€law€administrator€are€administrative€decisions€that€canŠ  ` Šbe€challenged€before€the€administrative€courts€which,€on€the€basis€of€appeals€lodged€by€aggrievedŠ ü L  Šcitizens,€have€annulled€a€number€of€those€decisions.Š č 8  ŠĢParagraph€8Š Ą  ŠĢ8.€Paragraph€8€of€the€Committee's€observations€refers€to€the€imposition€of€the€death€penalty€in€Syria,Š ˜č  Šin€connection€with€which€the€Committee€requests€statistics€concerning€the€number€of€executionsŠ „Ō  Šcarried€out€since€1990.Š pĄ ŠĢ9.€We€wish€to€emphasize€that€the€death€penalty€is€virtually€in€abeyance€in€Syria€where€it€is€enforcedŠ H˜ Šonly€on€rare€occasions,€the€last€being€in€1987.€Although€the€criminal€courts€pass€death€sentences,Š 4„ Šthese€are€soon€commuted€to€penalties€of€imprisonment€by€the€Court€of€Cassation€(the€highest€courtŠ  p Šin€Syria)€or€by€the€President€of€the€Republic€on€the€basis€of€a€recommendation€by€the€Board€ofŠ  \ ŠPardons€at€the€Ministry€of€Justice.€The€reason€for€our€failure€to€provide€the€Committee€with€statisticsŠ ųH Šon€the€death€penalty€is€that€this€penalty€has€not€been€enforced€in€Syria€since€1987€and,€consequently,Š ä4 Šthe€statistical€departments€have€no€record€of€any€executions€since€that€date.Š Š  ŠĢ10.€If€the€Committee€is€referring€to€cases€of€extrajudicial€execution,€we€can€confirm€that€there€areŠ Øų Šno€such€cases.€The€information€that€the€Committee€has€received€concerning€confessions€obtainedŠ ”ä Šin€an€illegal€manner€is€false€and€tendentious€information€disseminated€by€bodies€hostile€to€SyriaŠ €Š Šwhich€are€seeking€to€cause€harm€and€confusion.Š l¼ ŠĢParagraph€9Š D!” ŠĢ11.€With€regard€to€paragraph€9,€in€which€the€Committee€recommends€that€Syria€should€comply€withŠ #l! Šarticle€6,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€which€stipulates€that€sentence€of€death€may€be€imposed€onlyŠ $X" Šfor€the€most€serious€crimes,€we€wish€to€point€out€that€all€the€crimes€mentioned€in€paragraph€60€ofŠ ō$D # Šthe€report€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€are€extremely€grave€and€serious€crimes.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢParagraph€10Š ø'#& ŠĢ12.€There€are€no€cases€of€disappearance€of€Syrian€or€Lebanese€nationals€in€Syria.€The€LebaneseŠ )ą$( Šnationals€who€have€committed€security€offences€in€Syrian€territory€have€been€handed€over€to€theŠ |*Ģ%) ŠLebanese€Government.€The€Government€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€is€eager€to€prevent€anyŠ h+ø&* Šviolations,€the€perpetrators€of€which€would€be€called€to€account€in€accordance€with€the€ConstitutionŠ T,¤'+ Šand€laws€and€in€a€manner€consistent€with€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.Š @-(, ЇParagraph€11Š ° ŠĢ13.€The€Syrian€Government€has€not€prohibited€any€non-governmental€organization€from€monitoringŠ ˆŲ Šthe€human€rights€situation€in€Syria.€There€is€nothing€to€prevent€any€non-governmental€organizationŠ tÄ Šfrom€obtaining€authorization€to€do€so€in€accordance€with€the€laws€and€regulations€in€force.Š `° ŠĢParagraph€12Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ14.€There€is€no€truth€to€the€allegations€that€the€Committee€has€heard€concerning€torture€in€TadmurŠ  ` Šprison.€The€Syrian€Government€is€willing€to€investigate€any€specific€individual€incident€and€to€callŠ ü L  Što€account€the€persons€responsible€therefor.Š č 8  ŠĢParagraph€13Š Ą  ŠĢ15.€The€Syrian€Government€is€constantly€monitoring€the€measures€taken€to€improve€conditions€ofŠ ˜č  Šdetention€and,€in€particular,€to€ensure€the€availability€of€adequate€and€timely€medical€care€for€theŠ „Ō  Šinmates€of€all€prisons,€including€military€prisons.€Such€care,€including€medication,€surgicalŠ pĄ Šoperations€and€hospital€expenses,€is€provided€free€of€charge.€We€are€amazed€at€the€false€information,Š \¬ Šcontained€in€paragraph€13€of€your€observations,€concerning€military€and€other€prisons€in€Syria.Š H˜ ŠĢParagraph€14Š  p ŠĢ16.€Under€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€pre-trial€detention€(also€known€as€temporary€orŠ ųH Špreventive€detention)€is€subject€to€basic€safeguards.€Articles€424€and€425€stipulate€that€no€one€mayŠ ä4 Šbe€detained€without€being€duly€charged€in€accordance€with€the€legal€procedures.€Article€104€furtherŠ Š  Šstipulates€that€the€examining€magistrate€has€an€obligation€to€promptly€question€an€accused€personŠ ¼  Šwho€has€been€summoned€to€appear€before€him€and€any€suspect€who€is€arrested€under€the€terms€ofŠ Øų Ša€warrant€must€be€questioned€within€24€hours€from€the€time€of€his€arrest.Š ”ä ŠĢ17.€If€the€examining€magistrate€decides€to€order€the€remand€in€custody€of€an€accused€person,€theŠ l¼ Šlatter€has€the€right€to€request€his€release€and,€if€this€request€is€rejected€by€the€examining€magistrate,Š X Ø Šthe€accused€person€is€entitled€to€lodge€an€appeal,€within€24€hours,€against€the€decision€to€reject€hisŠ D!” Šrequest.Š 0"€  ŠĢ18.€Anyone€who€violates€the€provisions€of€the€Code€concerning€temporary€detention€commits€theŠ $X" Šoffence€of€arbitrary€detention,€which€is€punishable€under€article€358€of€the€Penal€Code.Š ō$D # ŠĢ19.€The€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€makes€explicit€provision€for€all€the€guarantees€needed€toŠ Ģ&"% Šfacilitate€access€by€accused€persons€to€legal€counsel.€Under€the€terms€of€article€69€of€the€Code,€theŠ ø'#& Šexamining€magistrate€has€an€obligation€to€inform€the€accused€person€of€his€right€to€refuse€to€answerŠ ¤(ō#' Šquestions€except€in€the€presence€of€his€lawyer€and,€if€he€requests€a€lawyer,€the€examining€magistrateŠ )ą$( Šmust€call€upon€the€President€of€the€Bar€Association€to€appoint€one€for€him.€Proceedings€cannot€beŠ |*Ģ%) Šconducted€before€a€criminal€court€unless€the€accused€is€accompanied€by€a€lawyer€and,€if€the€accusedŠ h+ø&* Šis€unable€to€appoint€one,€the€president€of€the€court€must€appoint€one€for€him.€In€all€cases,€the€lawyerŠ T,¤'+ Šso€appointed€acts€for€the€accused€free€of€charge.Š @-(, Ї20.€The€accused€has€the€right€to€contact€his€lawyer€at€any€time€and€to€meet€and€communicate€withŠ ° Šhim€in€private€without€surveillance€by€the€guards.Š œģ ŠĢParagraph€15Š tÄ ŠĢ21.€In€Syria€judges€are€appointed,€dismissed€and€disciplined€in€accordance€with€the€rules€laid€downŠ L œ Šin€the€Constitution€and€the€law€which,€in€this€connection,€contain€strict€safeguards€comparable€toŠ 8 ˆ Šthose€in€force€in€any€other€country€of€the€world.€Judges€enjoy€immunity€from€dismissal€and€transferŠ $ t Šwithin€the€limits€laid€down€in€articles€92€and€93€of€the€Judicial€Authority€Act.€Any€information€toŠ  ` Šthe€contrary€which€might€have€been€received€by€your€distinguished€Committee€is€pure€calumny.Š ü L  ŠĢ22.€The€fact€that€judges€of€the€Supreme€Constitutional€Court€are€appointed€only€for€a€short€four-yearŠ Ō$  Šterm€in€no€way€implies€that€they€are€subject€to€pressure€or€dependent€on€the€executive€authority.€ThisŠ Ą  Šis€a€statutory€and€impartially€chosen€term.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ23.€In€this€connection,€it€should€be€noted€that€article€142€of€the€Constitution€stipulates€that€theŠ „Ō  Šmembers€of€the€Supreme€Constitutional€Court€can€be€removed€therefrom€only€in€accordance€withŠ pĄ Šthe€provisions€of€the€law.Š \¬ ŠĢ24.€Moreover,€we€wish€to€draw€the€attention€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€to€the€fact€that,€sinceŠ 4„ Šthe€formation€of€the€first€Supreme€Constitutional€Court€in€1973,€its€judges€have€remained€in€officeŠ  p Šuntil€the€termination€of€their€mandate€through€death€or€retirement€and,€during€the€last€28€years,€theŠ  \ ŠPresident€of€the€Republic€has€never€refused€to€renew€the€term€of€office€of€any€of€the€Court's€judges.Š ųH ŠĢParagraph€16Š Š  ŠĢ25.€The€State€Security€Court€fully€applies€the€Penal€Code€and€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure.€ItsŠ Øų Šhearings€are€held€in€public,€pleas€are€made€verbally€and€the€rights€of€defence€are€safeguarded,Š ”ä Šincluding€the€appointment€of€a€lawyer€to€defend€the€accused€and€the€latter's€right€to€contact€hisŠ €Š Šlawyer€without€any€surveillance.€Article€7€of€the€Act€establishing€that€Court€makes€explicit€provisionŠ l¼ Šfor€the€right€of€defence.Š X Ø ŠĢ26.€The€allegations€to€the€effect€that€the€public€are€not€permitted€to€attend€the€hearings€of€that€CourtŠ 0"€  Šand€that€the€Court€has€rejected€complaints€of€torture€are€false,€since€the€State€Security€Court€fullyŠ #l! Šrespects€the€articles€of€the€Covenant€and€fully€applies€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure.Š $X" ŠĢ27.€With€regard€to€the€observation,€contained€in€paragraph€16,€to€the€effect€that€State€Security€CourtŠ ą%0!$ Šdecisions€are€not€subject€to€appeal,€we€wish€to€make€it€clear€that€article€8€of€the€Act€establishing€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠHigher€State€Security€Court€stipulates€that€the€decisions€handed€down€by€this€Court€are€notŠ ø'#& Šenforceable€until€they€have€been€ratified€by€a€decree€promulgated€by€the€President€of€the€Republic,Š ¤(ō#' Šwho€has€the€right€to€annul€a€decision€and€order€a€retrial€or€closure€of€the€case€or€reduce€or€commuteŠ )ą$( Šthe€penalty.€Closure€of€the€case€is€equivalent€to€a€full€pardon.€Such€Presidential€Decrees€are€final€andŠ |*Ģ%) Šnot€subject€to€any€form€of€appeal€or€review.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ28.€For€the€persons€convicted€by€the€Higher€State€Security€Court,€this€provision€empowering€theŠ @-(, ŠPresident€of€the€Republic€to€review€its€decisions€clearly€constitutes€a€major€safeguard€whichŠ ° Štranscends€a€mere€stipulation€designating€its€decisions€as€subject€to€appeal.Š œģ ŠĢParagraph€17Š tÄ ŠĢ29.€There€is€no€truth€to€the€allegations€contained€in€paragraph€17€to€the€effect€that€the€military€courtsŠ L œ Šdo€not€respect€the€guarantees€laid€down€in€the€Covenant,€since€these€courts€have€an€obligation€toŠ 8 ˆ Šapply€the€Act€of€1950€promulgating€the€Military€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure€whichŠ $ t Šembodies€all€the€guarantees€laid€down€in€the€Covenant.€The€military€courts€also€strictly€apply€theŠ  ` Šordinary€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€and€all€the€lawyers€who€plead€before€theŠ ü L  Šmilitary€courts€in€Syria€can€testify€to€the€fair,€equitable€and€impartial€nature€of€their€decisions€andŠ č 8  Štheir€respect€for€the€rights€of€the€accused€and€for€the€laws€that€they€apply.Š Ō$  ŠĢ30.€The€military€judiciary€consists€of€the€following€bodies:Š ¬ü  ŠĢ(a)€The€military€courts€consisting€of€a€single€judge,€which€are€competent€to€hear€contraventions€andŠ „Ō  Šmisdemeanours€(arts.€1€and€3€of€the€Military€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure);Š pĄ ŠĢ(b)€The€military€standing€courts,€consisting€of€a€president€and€two€members,€which€are€competentŠ H˜ Što€hear€cases€involving€felonies,€as€well€as€actions€brought€against€officers€even€if€the€offence€ofŠ 4„ Šwhich€they€are€accused€falls€within€the€jurisdiction€of€a€single€judge€(arts.€1,€3,€4€and€34€of€theŠ  p ŠMilitary€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure);Š  \ ŠĢ(c)€The€military€investigating€judge,€who€is€responsible€for€investigating€cases€involving€felonies€andŠ ä4 Šmajor€misdemeanours€(arts.€16€and€24€of€the€Military€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure);Š Š  ŠĢ(d)€The€Military€Court€of€Cassation,€one€of€the€criminal€divisions€of€the€ordinary€Court€of€CassationŠ Øų Š(the€highest€court€in€Syria)€in€which€one€of€the€justices€is€replaced€by€an€officer€holding€a€militaryŠ ”ä Šrank€not€lower€than€colonel€(art.€31€of€the€Military€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure).€TheŠ €Š ŠMilitary€Court€of€Cassation€hears€appeals€against€judgements€and€decisions€handed€down€by€theŠ l¼ Šmilitary€courts€and€the€military€investigating€judges€(art.€32);Š X Ø ŠĢ(e)€The€Judge€Advocate€General€and€his€assistants,€who€exercise€all€the€powers€vested€in€membersŠ 0"€  Šof€the€Department€of€Public€Prosecutions€under€the€terms€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€whichŠ #l! Šis€applied€by€the€ordinary€courts€(arts.€16-22€of€the€Military€Penal€Code€and€Code€of€JudicialŠ $X" ŠProcedure).Š ō$D # ŠĢ31.€The€procedures€followed€by€the€military€courts,€the€military€investigating€judge€and€the€MilitaryŠ Ģ&"% ŠCourt€of€Cassation€are€the€same€as€those€applied€by€the€ordinary€courts€and€specified€in€the€Code€ofŠ ø'#& ŠCriminal€Procedure,€as€explicitly€stipulated€in€articles€13,€17,€23,€33€and€69€of€the€Military€PenalŠ ¤(ō#' ŠCode€and€Code€of€Judicial€Procedure.Š )ą$( ŠĢ32.€Article€15€of€the€said€Code€stipulates€as€follows:Š h+ø&* ŠĢą0  ą"1.€An€objection€may€be€lodged€against€decisions€handed€down€in€absentia€by€militaryŠ @-(, Šstanding€courts€or€single€judges€within€a€period€of€five€days€beginning€on€the€day€followingŠ ° Šthe€date€of€notification€of€the€decision.Šœģ(#(# ŠĢą0  ą2.€All€decisions€handed€down€by€these€courts€shall€be€subject€to€appeal€in€cassation€unlessŠ tÄ Šotherwise€explicitly€stipulated."Š`°(#(# ŠĢ33.€In€all€cases,€even€when€a€decision€is€explicitly€designated€as€not€subject€to€appeal,€article€81Š 8 ˆ Šempowers€the€Minister€of€Defence€to€lodge€an€appeal€against€the€decision€with€the€Court€ofŠ $ t ŠCassation.€Article€15,€paragraph€4,€stipulates€that€decisions€entailing€the€death€penalty€cannot€beŠ  ` Šexplicitly€designated€as€not€subject€to€appeal€since,€in€all€cases,€such€judgements€are€subject€toŠ ü L  Šappeal€in€cassation.Š č 8  ŠĢParagraphs€18€and€20Š Ą  ŠĢ34.€The€Personal€Status€Act€promulgated€in€1953€and€amended€by€Act€No.€34€of€1975€guaranteesŠ ˜č  Šfull€equality€between€the€spouses,€before€and€during€marriage€and€upon€its€dissolution,€in€a€mannerŠ „Ō  Šconsistent€with€article€2,€paragraphs€1€and€3,€and€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€The€statementŠ pĄ Šconcerning€the€existence€of€discriminatory€elements€between€the€spouses€is€exaggerated€andŠ \¬ Šunrealistic.€Since€the€promulgation€of€the€amendments€in€Act€No.€34€of€1975,€young€women€haveŠ H˜ Šthe€right€to€accept€or€refuse€marriage,€authority€within€the€family€is€shared€between€the€spouses€andŠ 4„ Šeither€spouse€can€institute€divorce€proceedings€in€view€of€the€fact€that€anyone€wishing€to€divorceŠ  p Šmerely€has€to€apply€to€the€courts€to€obtain€a€separation€order€and,€even€if€a€husband€repudiates€hisŠ  \ Šwife€unilaterally,€this€divorce€does€not€take€effect€until€the€matter€has€been€brought€before€the€courtsŠ ųH Šand€a€divorce€decree€has€been€issued.Š ä4 ŠĢ35.€The€marriageable€age€to€which€the€Committee€referred€in€paragraph€20€of€its€observations€shouldŠ ¼  Šbe€viewed€in€the€light€of€the€following€two€facts:Š Øų ŠĢ(a)€Marriage€at€the€age€of€15€for€boys€and€13€for€girls€requires€the€consent€not€only€of€the€father€butŠ €Š Šalso€of€the€judge.€The€status€of€this€judge,€who€is€the€highest€ranking€Shariah€judge€(Chief€JusticeŠ l¼ Šof€the€Shariah€Courts)€in€Syria,€unquestionably€ensures€that€the€physical€and€mental€condition€of€theŠ X Ø Šboy€or€girl€is€verified;Š D!” ŠĢ(b)€In€Islam,€marriage€is€linked€to€the€age€of€physical€puberty,€which€differs€from€one€geographicalŠ #l! Šenvironment€to€another.€In€countries€with€a€hot€climate€girls€sometimes€reach€puberty€at€nine€yearsŠ $X" Šof€age,€in€contrast€to€countries€with€a€colder€climate€in€which€puberty€is€attained€at€a€much€later€age.Š ō$D # ŠĢ36.€Although€puberty€is€a€clear€indication€of€both€physical€and€mental€maturity,€as€already€mentionedŠ Ģ&"% Šmarriage€at€this€age€can€take€place€only€after€the€highest€ranking€Shariah€judge€has€studied€theŠ ø'#& Šphysical€and€mental€condition€of€the€boy€or€girl€in€the€light€of€medical€reports.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ37.€At€all€events,€it€should€be€noted€that€the€marriage€of€a€girl€between€the€ages€of€13€and€17€is€anŠ |*Ģ%) Šexceptional€and€rare€occurrence.Š h+ø&* ŠĢŠ @-(, ŠParagraph€19Š ° ŠĢ38.€In€response€to€the€Committee's€request€in€paragraph€19,€we€will€be€providing€you,€in€our€nextŠ ˆŲ Šreport,€with€full€information€on€the€employment,€remuneration€and€level€of€responsibility€of€womenŠ tÄ Šin€the€public€and€private€sectors.€However,€we€wish€to€draw€the€Committee's€attention€to€the€factŠ `° Šthat,€in€Syria,€women€enjoy€the€same€constitutional,€legal,€political€and€social€rights€as€men.€ForŠ L œ Šexample,€they€have€the€right€to€vote€in€public€elections€and€to€stand€as€candidates€for€membershipŠ 8 ˆ Šof€all€councils€without€exception.€Women€have€an€unrestricted€right€to€work,€for€which€they€receiveŠ $ t Šremuneration€equivalent€to€that€paid€to€men€for€the€same€type€of€work.€The€current€policy€of€theŠ  ` ŠGovernment€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€in€regard€to€women€is€to€take€all€the€necessary€measuresŠ ü L  Što€promote€their€role€in€society€and€the€State.Š č 8  ŠĢParagraph€21Š Ą  ŠĢ39.€The€Syrian€authorities€and€the€Syrian€embassies€abroad€are€taking€all€the€necessary€measures€forŠ ˜č  Šthe€renewal€of€Syrian€passports€when€they€expire.€Syrian€embassies€do€not€prevent€any€Syrian€citizenŠ „Ō  Šfrom€renewing€his€passport.€However,€some€Syrians€residing€abroad€have€administrative€problemsŠ pĄ Šrelating€to€military€service,€financial€or€administrative€obligations€towards€the€State€or€liabilities€toŠ \¬ Šothers€and€are€required€to€regularize€their€situation€vis--vis€the€competent€administrative€authoritiesŠ H˜ Šin€Syria.€This€does€not€prevent€the€embassy€from€taking€care€of€them€and€providing€them€with€theŠ 4„ Šdocuments€needed€for€their€continued€residence€in€the€foreign€country€in€which€they€are€living.Š  p ŠĢ40.€The€Ministry€of€the€Interior€promulgated€Ordinance€No.€1016€of€13€November€1999,€whichŠ ųH Šconsiderably€facilitates€the€procedures€for€the€travel,€departure€and€return€of€Syrian€citizens€and€theŠ ä4 Šissue€of€passports€and€exit€visas.€The€Ministry€of€the€Interior€is€currently€studying€further€measuresŠ Š  Što€facilitate€the€travel€of€citizens€in€future.Š ¼  ŠĢ41.€However,€it€should€be€clearly€understood€that€the€purpose€of€the€exit€visas€needed€by€someŠ ”ä Šcitizens€is€not€to€restrict€their€freedom€but€solely€to€ensure€that€criminals€do€not€flee€the€country€andŠ €Š Šthat€persons€with€financial€or€administrative€obligations€do€not€evade€the€fulfilment€of€thoseŠ l¼ Šobligations.Š X Ø ŠĢParagraph€22Š 0"€  ŠĢ42.€Decisions€to€expel€aliens€from€Syria€are€considered€very€carefully€by€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.Š $X" ŠNo€alien€is€expelled€unless,€following€a€thorough€study€of€his€case,€it€has€been€fully€ascertained€thatŠ ō$D # Šhis€presence€in€Syria€would€constitute€a€source€of€danger€or€concern€for€the€country.€As€a€safeguardŠ ą%0!$ Šfor€aliens,€the€authority€to€issue€expulsion€orders€is€vested€in€the€Minister€of€the€Interior€in€person.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ43.€Nevertheless,€the€law€offers€aliens€two€channels€through€which€they€can€appeal€or€protestŠ ¤(ō#' Šagainst,€and€request€annulment€of,€such€orders€issued€by€the€Minister€of€the€Interior:Š )ą$( ŠĢ(a)€The€administrative€channel,€to€which€an€alien€can€resort€in€order€to€submit€a€complaint€to€theŠ h+ø&* ŠMinister€of€the€Interior€through€one€of€our€embassies€abroad;Š T,¤'+ ŠŌ_ŌŠ @-(, Š(b)€The€judicial€channel,€to€which€an€alien€can€resort,€after€his€complaint€has€been€rejected€by€theŠ ° ŠMinister€of€the€Interior,€in€order€to€bring€a€legal€action€before€the€Council€of€State€for€annulment€ofŠ œģ Šan€expulsion€order€issued€by€the€Minister€of€the€Interior.Š ˆŲ ŠĢParagraph€23Š `° ŠĢ44.€Our€Mission€has€already€informed€you€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌNizarŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌNayyufŌ_Ō€has€been€released€and€now€enjoysŠ 8 ˆ Šfull€freedom€of€expression€and€action.Š $ t ŠĢ45.€We€are€surprised€at€the€Committee's€statement€to€the€effect€that€the€activities€of€human€rightsŠ ü L  Šdefenders€and€of€journalists€are€restricted,€since€these€persons€enjoy€full€freedom,€within€the€limitsŠ č 8  Šof€the€laws€and€regulations€in€force,€to€publish€whatever€they€wish€without€any€restrictions.Š Ō$  ŠĢParagraph€24Š ¬ü  ŠĢ46.€We€have€already€confirmed€that€the€promulgation€of€Legislative€Decree€No.€6€of€7€January€1965,Š „Ō  Šconcerning€opposition€to€the€aims€of€the€revolution,€was€necessitated€by€exceptional€circumstances.Š pĄ ŠThat€Legislative€Decree€was€promulgated€in€1965€in€conjunction€with€some€socialist€legislation€inŠ \¬ Šview€of€the€fear€that€an€armed€movement€might€be€established€to€resist€that€legislation.€However,Š H˜ Šfor€reasons€best€known€to€the€judiciary,€that€Legislative€Decree€has€not€been€applied€since€that€time.Š 4„ ŠĢ47.€Accordingly,€there€is€no€justification€for€any€concern€regarding€the€existence€of€that€LegislativeŠ  \ ŠDecree,€the€allegations€that€the€Committee€has€received€in€this€connection€being€totally€unfounded.Š ųH ŠĢParagraph€25Š Š  ŠĢ48.€There€are€no€exceptional€restrictions€on€the€holding€of€public€meetings€and€demonstrations€inŠ Øų ŠSyria.€The€conditions€for€the€authorization€of€public€assemblies€are€the€usual€conditions€laid€downŠ ”ä Šin€all€countries€of€the€world,€namely€that€the€persons€wishing€to€hold€a€meeting€or€demonstrationŠ €Š Šmust€request€authorization€from€the€competent€authorities€in€an€application€specifying€the€location,Š l¼ Štime€and€purposes€of€the€meeting€or€demonstration€and€the€names€of€its€organizers.€This€applicationŠ X Ø Šis€studied€in€the€light€of€the€requirements€of€public€order,€public€safety,€public€health€and€morals€andŠ D!” Šthe€rights€of€others.€The€Syrian€authorities€have€never€rejected€an€application€that€was€in€conformityŠ 0"€  Šwith€the€laws€and€regulations€in€force.Š #l! ŠĢParagraph€26Š ō$D # ŠĢ49.€The€proposed€law€on€political€parties€will€unquestionably€be€compatible€with€the€provisions€ofŠ Ģ&"% Šthe€Covenant€and€will€dispel€the€concern€expressed€by€the€Committee€in€paragraph€26.Š ø'#& ŠĢParagraph€27Š )ą$( ŠĢ50.€With€regard€to€paragraph€27,€the€Kurds€who€enter€Syria€from€Ō_ŌneighbouringŌ_Ō€countries€are€shownŠ h+ø&* Šspecial€concern€by€the€Syrian€authorities,€who€Ō_ŌendeavourŌ_Ō€to€solve€their€humanitarian,€administrativeŠ T,¤'+ Šand€practical€problems.€Special€concern€is€also€shown€for€Kurdish€children€born€in€Syria,€who€areŠ @-(, Štreated€in€the€same€way€as€Syrian€citizens,€without€any€discrimination€or€preference.€The€SyrianŠ ° Šauthorities€are€making€a€very€careful€study€of€the€situation€of€these€Kurds,€taking€into€account€all€theŠ œģ Šcircumstances€that€induce€them€to€enter€and€live€in€Syria.Š ˆŲ ŠĢParagraph€28Š `° ŠĢ51.€We€wish€to€assure€the€Committee€that€the€second€periodic€report€and€the€Committee'sŠ 8 ˆ Šobservations€will€be€disseminated€widely€in€Syria.Š $ t ŠĢParagraph€29Š ü L  ŠĢ52.€Although,€in€this€reply,€we€have€answered€all€the€questions€raised€by€the€Committee€in€paragraphŠ Ō$  Š29€of€its€observations,€we€wish€to€assure€the€Committee€that€the€Syrian€Mission€to€the€UnitedŠ Ą  ŠNations€will€keep€it€abreast€of€any€new€developments€relating€to€the€matters€that€are€giving€rise€toŠ ¬ü  Šits€concern.€We€also€confirm€that€the€Mission€will€continue€to€cooperate€with€the€Committee€in€anŠ ˜č  Šobjective€manner€conducive€to€the€promotion€of€human€rights.€Š „Ō  ŠĢĢĢŠ  4„ ŠĢņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/CO/84/Ō_ŌSYRŌ_Ō/Add.1€(2006)ó óŠ œģ ŠĢĢņ ņComments€by€the€Government€of€Syria€on€the€concluding€observations€of€the€Human€RightsŠ `° ŠCommitteeó óŠ L œ ŠĢ[12€September€2006]Š $ t Š€ĢņņParagraph€6óóŠ ü L  ŠĢą  ąThe€Emergency€Act€issued€in€Legislative€Decree€No.€51€of€22€December€1962,€as€amendedŠ Ō$  Šby€Legislative€Decree€No.€1€of€9€March€1963,€and€which€is€currently€in€force€in€the€Syrian€ArabŠ Ą  ŠRepublic,€is€an€exceptional€constitutional€arrangement€established€in€the€presence€of€an€imminentŠ ¬ü  Šthreat€to€the€country's€integrity.€€It€empowers€the€competent€authorities€to€take€all€measures€providedŠ ˜č  Šfor€by€law€to€protect€all€or€part€of€the€State's€territory,€territorial€waters€and€airspace€from€the€dangersŠ „Ō  Šinherent€in€an€external€armed€attack.Š pĄ ŠĢą  ąSince€1948,€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic,€a€founding€member€of€the€United€Nations,€has€beenŠ H˜ Šsubjected,€like€other€neighbouring€Arab€States,€to€a€real€threat€of€war.€€Indeed,€on€many€occasions,Š 4„ Šthis€threat€has€culminated€in€actual€aggression€against€the€territory,€territorial€waters€and€airspace€ofŠ  p Šthe€Syrian€Arab€Republic,€particularly€in€1967,€when€Israel€seized€part€of€the€territory€of€the€SyrianŠ  \ ŠArab€Republic,€which€it€is€still€occupying,€and€expelled€a€large€proportion€of€the€population.€€TheŠ ųH Šmost€recent€such€Israeli€attacks€were€the€attack€on€Ain€al-Sahib€on€5€October€2003€and€the€violationŠ ä4 Šof€Syrian€airspace€on€28€June€2006.Š Š  ŠĢą  ąThis€state€of€affairs,€namely,€a€real€threat€of€war,€Israel's€continued€occupation€of€part€of€theŠ Øų Šterritory€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic,€and€the€real€threat€of€expansion€of€the€occupation,€all€inŠ ”ä Šviolation€of€United€Nations€resolutions,€created€an€exceptional€situation€requiring€the€rapid€andŠ €Š Šextraordinary€mobilization€of€Syrian€forces€and€efforts€to€enable€the€Administration€to€act€quicklyŠ l¼ Što€deal€with€these€imminent€threats€in€accordance€with€the€Constitution€and€laws€in€force€in€theŠ X Ø ŠSyrian€Arab€Republic.€€It€was€therefore€necessary€to€promulgate€the€Act€and€maintain€it€in€force.Š D!” ŠĢą  ąThe€Emergency€Act€is€implemented€in€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€in€the€narrowest€ofŠ #l! Šcircumstances€and€under€very€special€conditions.€€This€in€no€way€implies€that€it€takes€precedenceŠ $X" Šover€the€Constitution€and€Syrian€law€or€the€State's€other€international€obligations.Š ō$D # ŠĢą  ąThe€legislator,€out€of€a€desire€to€avoid€excesses€in€any€abuse€of€the€state€of€emergency,Š Ģ&"% Šimposed€restrictions€on€the€implementation€of€the€provisions€of€the€Act,€allowing€specialized€courtsŠ ø'#& Što€overturn€the€decisions€of€military€courts.€€The€following€are€some€examples€of€judgementsŠ ¤(ō#' Šoverturning€such€court€rulings:Š )ą$( ŠĢą0  ąš!š€Administrative€court€ruling€No.€140/M€of€6€April€1995;Šh+ø&*(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Ruling€No.€726/1€of€2002;ŠT,¤'+(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Ruling€No.€1242/1/2002€of€22€September€2002;Š@-(,(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Administrative€court€ruling€No.€1951€of€29€December€2002€issued€in€case€No.€2139€ofŠ ° Š2002.Šœģ(#(# ŠĢņņParagraph€8óóŠ tÄ ŠĢą  ąThe€Government€of€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic€took€the€initiative€of€setting€up€a€SyrianŠ L œ ŠLebanese€committee€to€address€the€issue€of€Syrian€and€Lebanese€missing€persons€in€Syria€andŠ 8 ˆ ŠLebanon.€€From€the€Syrian€side,€the€committee€members€are:Š $ t ŠĢą0  ąš!š€Judge€Ō_ŌTaysirŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌQalaŌ_Ō`Ō_ŌawadŌ_Ō€-€Ministry€of€Justice;Šü L (#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Judge€General€George€Tahah€-€Military€Prosecutor-General;Šč 8 (#(# Šą0  ąš!š€General€Ō_ŌMazaharŌ_Ō€Ahmad€-€Directorate€of€the€Department€of€Immigration€and€Passports;Š Ō$  ŠandŠĄ (#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Dr.€Ahmad€Abd€al-Aziz€-€Director€of€the€Prime€Minister's€Office.Ьü (#(# Šą0  ąŠ (#(# Šą  ąFrom€the€Lebanese€side,€the€committee€members€are:Š „Ō  Š€ą  ąŠ pĄ Šą0  ąš!š€Judge€Joseph€Mi`amari€-€Prosecutor-General€at€the€Beirut€Court€of€Appeal;Š\¬(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Judge€George€Rizq€-€investigating€judge€at€the€Beirut€Court€of€Appeal;ŠH˜(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€General€Ali€Maki€-€Internal€Security€Forces;Š4„(#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Mr.€Ō_ŌAbdŌ_Ō€al-Ō_ŌHafizŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAytaniŌ_Ō€-€Chief€Registrar€at€the€Prosecutor-General's€office€at€the€BeirutŠ  p ŠCourt€of€Appeal.Š \(#(# Šą0  ąŠ (#(# ŠThe€Syrian-Lebanese€committee€was€established€formally€and€legally.€€It€takes€whatever€measuresŠ ä4 Šare€required€and€enjoys€complete€independence.Š Š  ŠĢą  ąThe€committee's€work€is€the€best€indicator€of€its€credibility€and€clearly€shows€thatŠ Øų Šinvestigations€into€all€cases€of€disappearance€are€being€carried€out€in€accordance€with€legalŠ ”ä Šprinciples.Š €Š ŠĢą  ąThe€operational€strategy€and€effectiveness€of€the€committee€revolve€around€a€central€focus,Š X Ø Šnamely,€that€of€attempting€to€deal€with€the€issue€of€Lebanese€missing€persons€in€Syria€and€SyrianŠ D!” Šmissing€persons€in€Lebanon€and€to€devise€appropriate€solutions€through€coordination€andŠ 0"€  Šcooperation€between€the€two€sides.€€The€committee's€work€is€of€a€humanitarian€nature€and€is€aŠ #l! Šmeasure€of€the€sound€fraternal€relationship€existing€between€the€two€fraternal€States.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąThe€committee€has€taken€practical€steps€in€this€regard,€translating€its€activities€into€concreteŠ ą%0!$ Šactions€by€holding€a€series€of€meetings€between€3€October€2005€and€29€April€2006.€€The€committee'sŠ Ģ&"% Šwork€is€ongoing.€€The€Syrian€side€received€a€response€from€the€Lebanese€side€concerning€1,088Š ø'#& Šmissing€Syrians€in€which€the€fate€of€only€2€persons€was€explained.€€At€the€same€time,€the€LebaneseŠ ¤(ō#' Šside€received€a€response€about€missing€Lebanese€in€Syria,€numbering€some€724€persons,€accordingŠ )ą$( Što€the€lists€submitted€by€the€Lebanese€side.€€The€Syrian€side€provided€information€about€the€fate€ofŠ |*Ģ%) Š10€Syrians€convicted€and€subsequently€released€from€prison€under€a€presidential€amnesty.€€TheŠ h+ø&* ŠLebanese€allege€that€these€persons€are€Lebanese,€although€they€are€of€Syrian€origin.€€The€LebaneseŠ T,¤'+ Šside€also€received€a€reply€describing€the€fate€of€88€persons€in€Syrian€prisons,€as€well€as€a€LebaneseŠ @-(, Šwoman€called€Anhad€Fayiz€Nun€who€is€incarcerated€in€Homs€central€prison€for€drug-traffickingŠ ° Šoffences.€€It€also€received€a€reply€about€the€execution€of€a€Lebanese€national€called€Bassam€RiyadŠ œģ ŠMuthalij,€on€22€May€1995,€together€with€an€annex€containing€the€court€judgement€and€a€replyŠ ˆŲ Šconcerning€the€fate€of€32€Lebanese,€together€with€details€of€convictions€handed€down€against€them,Š tÄ Šthe€sentences€which€they€received€and€the€date€on€which€some€of€them€were€released.Š `° Š€Ģą  ąThe€next€meeting€is€scheduled€for€27€May€2006.€€The€number€of€Lebanese€and€SyrianŠ 8 ˆ Šmissing€persons€is€based€on€the€lists€submitted€by€the€two€sides.Š $ t ŠĢą  ąDuring€the€course€of€its€work,€the€committee€took€a€range€of€practical€steps€which€indicateŠ ü L  Šits€proactive€approach€to€dealing€with€the€issue€of€missing€persons.€€These€steps€resulted€in€theŠ č 8  Šproduction€of€minutes€of€joint€meetings,€underlining€the€determination€of€these€mechanisms€to€dealŠ Ō$  Šwith€this€issue€in€the€best€possible€way.Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąThe€minutes€show€that€Lebanese€nationals€have€been€surrendered€to€Lebanon€and€that€theŠ ˜č  Šrecords€of€the€Syrian€authorities€contain€information€about€Lebanese€detained€in€the€country€andŠ „Ō  Šsubsequently€surrendered€to€the€Lebanese€authorities€between€1991€and€2005.€€In€this€connection,Š pĄ Šwe€should€like€to€point€out€that€the€most€important€characteristics€of€the€joint€Syrian€LebaneseŠ \¬ Šcommittee's€work€are€strict€professionalism€and€compliance€with€the€law.€€The€Syrian€side€receivedŠ H˜ Ša€list€containing€the€names€of€four€missing€Lebanese€to€be€removed€from€the€second€Lebanese€listŠ 4„ Šafter€the€Lebanese€authorities€found€their€bodies€in€a€grave€in€Lebanese€territory.€€The€persons€inŠ  p Šquestion€were:Š  \ ŠĢą0  ą1.ą ` ąRobert€Au€Ō_ŌSirhalŌ_Ō;Šä4(#(# Šą0  ą2.ą ` ąGeorge€Ō_ŌBashurŌ_Ō;ŠŠ (#(# Šą0  ą3.ą ` ąŌ_ŌMiladŌ_Ō€al-Ō_ŌAlamŌ_Ō;м (#(# Šą0  ą4.ą ` ąJean€Ō_ŌKhouriŌ_Ō.ŠØų(#(# Šą0  ąŠ (#(# ŠņņParagraph€9óóŠ €Š ŠĢą  ąThe€Syrian€Arab€Republic,€pursuant€to€legislative€decree€No.€39€of€Ō_Ō1/2Ō_Ō004,€acceded€to€theŠ X Ø ŠConvention€against€Torture€and€prepares€a€report€on€it€every€year.€€The€Convention€takes€precedenceŠ D!” Šover€prevailing€Syrian€law€and€gives€every€individual€or€legal€entity€the€right€to€invoke€its€provisionsŠ 0"€  Šand€demand€that€they€be€implemented€in€the€event€of€any€conflict€with€the€laws€in€force.€€Syrian€lawŠ #l! Šprohibits€law€enforcement€personnel€from€implementing€laws€that€violate€freedoms€or€from€harmingŠ $X" Šor€using€force€and€violence€against€persons€under€investigation,€subject€to€the€severe€penalties€thatŠ ō$D # Šare€laid€down€in€the€Criminal€Code€and€Prisons€Act.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢņņArticle€357€of€the€Criminal€CodeóóŠ ø'#& ŠĢą  ąAnyone€who€arrests€or€detains€a€person€in€circumstances€not€sanctioned€by€law€shall€be€liableŠ )ą$( Što€a€term€of€imprisonment€with€hard€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢĢŠ @-(, ŠņņArticle€358€of€the€Criminal€CodeóóŠ ° ŠĢą  ąAny€warden€or€guard€of€a€prison,€a€disciplinary€institution€or€a€correctional€facility€and€anyŠ ˆŲ Šofficer€acting€in€that€function€who€admits€a€person€to€a€facility€without€a€court€order€or€judgementŠ tÄ Šor€who€keeps€a€person€therein€after€the€extinction€of€the€sentence€shall€be€liable€to€a€penalty€of€fromŠ `° Šone€to€three€years'€imprisonment.Š L œ Š€ĢņņArticle€359€of€the€Criminal€CodeóóŠ $ t ŠĢą  ąAny€of€the€above-mentioned€persons,€and,€in€general,€any€law€enforcement€officer€orŠ ü L  Šadministrative€official,€who€refuses€or€fails€promptly€to€bring€a€detainee€or€prisoner€before€aŠ č 8  Šcompetent€magistrate€who€requests€him€to€do€so,€shall€be€liable€to€a€penalty€of€from€one€month€toŠ Ō$  Šone€year€in€prison.Š Ą  ŠĢņņArticle€391óóŠ ˜č  ŠĢAnyone€who€illegally€batters€a€person€in€order€to€extract€a€confession€to,€or€information€about,€anŠ pĄ Šoffence€shall€be€liable€to€a€penalty€of€from€three€months€to€three€years€in€prison.€€If€the€violenceŠ \¬ Šresults€in€illness€or€injury,€the€minimum€penalty€shall€be€one€year's€imprisonment.Š H˜ ŠĢņņArticle€30€of€the€Prisons€Act€issued€in€Decree€1222€of€20€June€1929,€and€all€the€amendments€thereto,Š  p Šand€Act€496€of€1957óóŠ  \ ŠĢą  ąNo€official€or€guard€may€use€force€against€prisoners;€eat€or€drink€with€prisoners,€even€afterŠ ä4 Štheir€release,€or€with€their€family€members,€friends€or€visitors;€smoke€inside€the€prison;€be€in€anŠ Š  Šintoxicated€state;€give€prisoners€private€jobs€to€do€or€ask€them€to€help€him€perform€a€task,€unless€inŠ ¼  Šspecial€authorized€circumstances;€accept€any€gift,€loan€or€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€from€prisoners€or€persons€of€similarŠ Øų Šstatus;€carry€out€any€commissions€for,€or€buy€or€sell€any€item€on€behalf€of€a€prisoner;€and€facilitateŠ ”ä Šor€acquiesce€in€any€illegal€correspondence€or€communication€with€third€parties.Š €Š ŠĢą  ąAny€infringement€of€these€prohibitions€and€of€the€rules€regulating€guard€and€custody€dutyŠ X Ø Šshall€be€punished,€depending€on€the€severity€of€the€offence,€by€the€penalties€set€down€in€theŠ D!” Šdisciplinary€laws.€€The€offender€shall€also€be€subject,€as€appropriate,€to€the€penalties€prescribed€byŠ 0"€  Šthe€Criminal€Code,€particularly€articles€67€et€seq.,€concerning€bribes€taken€by€officials,€as€well€asŠ #l! Šthe€articles€on€battery€and€wounding.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąAny€official€who€breaches€the€Convention€and€prevailing€laws€shall€be€subject€to€theŠ ą%0!$ Šfollowing:Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ1.ą  ąA€disciplinary€investigationŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢą  ąThe€person€shall€be€brought€before€a€tribunal€or€disciplinary€board€and€shall€be€subject€toŠ |*Ģ%) Šdisciplinary€sanctions€ranging€from€a€caution€to€dismissal.Š h+ø&* ŠĢą  ąCriminal€proceedings€shall€be€brought€before€the€Public€Prosecutions€Office€either€pursuantŠ @-(, Što€a€complaint,€if€proceedings€depend€on€the€filing€of€a€complaint,€or€automatically,€if€no€complaintŠ ° Šis€necessary.Š œģ ŠĢą  ąIn€any€case,€the€injured€party€may€demand€fair€material€and€moral€compensation€for€theŠ tÄ Šinjury€suffered.Š `° ŠĢą  ąA€number€of€officials€have€been€convicted€for€violating€law€enforcement€rules.€€The€personsŠ 8 ˆ Šin€question€were€punished€and€ordered€to€pay€compensation€to€the€injured€parties.Š $ t Š€Ģą  ąWe€have€already€provided€examples€of€convictions,€to€which€we€shall€add€those€foundŠ ü L  Šbelow.Š č 8  ŠĢą0  ąš!š€Ruling€No.€334€issued€in€Aleppo€criminal€court€case€No.€82€on€9€December€1999,Š Ą  Šconvicting€a€warrant€officer€and€a€policeman€of€inflicting€fatal€injuries.€€The€two€men€wereŠ ¬ü  Šsentenced€to€imprisonment€with€hard€labour€and€the€relatives€of€the€deceased€were€givenŠ ˜č  Šleave€to€demand€compensation;Š„Ō (#(# Šą0  ąš!š€Ruling€No.€212€issued€in€Aleppo€criminal€court€case€No.€339€on€31€August€2002,Š pĄ Šconvicting€two€policemen€at€the€rank€of€warrant€officer€of€inflicting€fatal€injuries.€€The€twoŠ \¬ Šmen€were€sentenced€to€imprisonment€with€hard€labour€and€ordered€to€pay€the€relatives€of€theŠ H˜ Šdeceased€700,000€Syrian€pounds€in€compensation.Š4„(#(# Šą0  ąŠ (#(# ŠņņParagraph€12óóŠ  \ ŠĢą  ąThe€Associations€and€Private€Institutions€Act€No.€93€of€1958€and€its€implementing€regulationŠ ä4 Šgave€the€Ministry€of€Social€Affairs€and€Labour€the€right€to€decide€on€registration€applicationsŠ Š  Šsubmitted€by€private€associations€that€satisfy€the€legal€criteria,€subject€to€consultation€withŠ ¼  Šgovernment€agencies.€€When€examining€applications,€the€Ministry€makes€sure€that€the€association'sŠ Øų Šaims€and€activities€fall€within€the€Ministry's€remit€and€are€compatible€with€the€State's€socialŠ ”ä Šdevelopment€goals.Š €Š ŠĢą  ąIn€the€past,€particularly€in€the€past€two€years,€the€Ministry€approved€the€registration€of€a€largeŠ X Ø Šnumber€of€private€human€rights€associations,€including€those€devoted€to€the€rights€of€children,Š D!” Šwomen€and€disabled€persons€and€the€welfare€of€prisoners€and€others€with€special€needs.€€TheŠ 0"€  ŠMinistry€runs€joint€programmes€with€these€associations,€delivering€social€welfare€and€implementingŠ #l! Šemployment-generating€development€projects.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąHowever,€the€Ministry€has€received€applications€from€human€rights€associations€withŠ ą%0!$ Špredominantly€political€aims€and€activities€which€are€beyond€the€scope€of€private€associations€andŠ Ģ&"% Šare€normally€carried€out€by€political€parties.€€These€matters€are€outside€the€Ministry's€purview€andŠ ø'#& Šare€regulated€by€laws€other€than€the€Private€Associations€Act.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢą  ąHere,€we€should€like€to€point€out€that,€over€the€past€year,€the€Ministry€has€simplifiedŠ |*Ģ%) Šprocedures€for€associations,€thereby€facilitating€registration€of€a€large€number€of€associations.€€TheŠ h+ø&* Šnumber€of€registered€associations€now€stands€at€1,000,€while€the€figure€in€2000€was€around€500.€€AŠ T,¤'+ Šnational€committee€is€in€the€process€of€elaborating€a€new€law€for€private€associations€in€order€toŠ @-(, Šsimplify€registration€procedures,€ensure€flexibility€and€transparency€in€their€work,€and€reduce€theŠ ° Šlevel€of€direct€monitoring€of€their€activities€carried€out€by€the€competent€government€agencies.Š œģ ŠĢą  ąWe€attach€a€list€of€examples€of€the€different€kinds€of€associations€that€are€authorized€toŠ tÄ Šoperate€in€the€Syrian€Arab€Republic.Š `° ŠĢĢĢ