August 18, 2010 by sks
According to Kurdish Organization for Defending Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria – DAD, the Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF and other organisations report that the Norwegian authorities have arrested the Kurdish citizen, Abdulkarim Hossain born 1959, from Aleppo, and will send him back to Syria tomorrow, 19th August 2010 at 4pm.
The Kurdish activist, who also is active in SOS Racism [ http://sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/13940], was given his final refusal of permission to remain in Norway, despite the extremely high risk that he will be arrested and tortured on return to Syria. He applied in Norway for asylum in 2006. Abdulkarim Hossain will be in danger of losing his life in Syria. The Syrian authorities know that he is a human rights activist and Vice Chairperson of the Association of Syrian Kurds in Norway.
Jan Erik Skretteberg of SOS Racism in Norway states:
Involvement in the organisation means that Hossain’s life is in danger if he’s not granted permit to stay in Norway. Hossain is Vice Chairperson in The Association of Syrian Kurds in Norway and has been very active in the struggle for human rights in his native country. The Syrian authorities know this, and this activity is regarded as criminal by the Syrian authorities.
Other Kurdish human rights defenders persecuted in Syria:
Amnesty International is running a campaign for the release of ‘Abed al-Hafith ‘Abed al-Rahman [also spelt Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman], a 44-year-old Syrian Kurdish human rights activist, who has been held incommunicado since he was detained by members of Military Intelligence on 2 March 2010. He is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. http://supportkurds.org/news/urgent-action-syrian-kurdish-human-rights-activist-detained
The latest news report confirms that Abdul-Hafiz Abdul al-Rahman was brought before a military judge on 22 June, and charged with two offences relating to his work to promote the human rights of Syria’s Kurds. A prisoner of conscience, if found guilty he could be sentenced to three years in prison http://supportkurds.org/news/abdul-hafiz-abdul-al-rahman-is-now-allowed-family-visits-after-5-months-in-prison/
Amnesty International is also concerned about the fate of Syria Kurd, Berzani Karro, who was tortured in custody in Syria, and has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for “attempting to sever part of the Syrian territory and annex it to a foreign state.” Berzani Karro was brought before a military court on 14 March, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, immediately commuted to two-and-a-half years. He intends to appeal, though such appeals are rarely successful. http://supportkurds.org/news/berzani-karro-is-tortured-and-sentenced-to-imprisonment-after-being-returned-to-syria-from-cyprus
Syrian Kurd, Khaled Kenjo was sent back to Syria from Germany in 2009, in spite of repeated attempts by the Kurdish community to convince the German authorities of the risk to his life. He was arrested and heavily tortured on return to Syria. http://supportkurds.org/news/kenjo-was-subjected-to-torture-while-in-custody
Urgent appeal:
International Support Kurds in Syria Association – SKS, Kurdish Organization for Defending Human Rights and Public Freedoms in Syria – DAD, the Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF, and other human rights organisations appeal to the Norwegian authorities to stop the removal of Abdulkarim Hossain immediately, and to grant him asylum.
18 August 2010
