President Bashar al-Assad
Office of the President
Presidential Palace Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid St.
Damascus, Syria

August 30, 2007

Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is deeply concerned about the continued detention of three Syrians: Michel Kilo, a prominent journalist, human rights activist and political scientist; Anwar al-Bunni, a Syrian political activist and lawyer; and Kamal al-Labwami, physician and founder of the Democratic Liberal Gathering.

Michel Kilo was arrested on May 14, 2007, after signing a joint statement entitled "Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut Declaration", which called for improved relations between the two nations. Kilo was sentenced to three years in jail, accused of "weakening national sentiment, "spreading false information" and promoting "religious and racial divisions."

Anwar al-Bunni was detained on May 17, 2006, and sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was also a central figure in the declaration signed by more then 300 Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals. The prosecutors added the accusation of "spreading false and exaggerated news that weaken the spirit of the nation." During his arrest, Bunni went on a hunger strike to complain about the repeated persecutions and inhumane treatments to which he was subjected.

Kamal al-Labwani was sentenced to 12 years in jail on charges of "communicating with a foreign country and encouraging it to initiate attacks against Syria." He was jailed in November 2005 upon his return from the United States, where he participated in several meetings with local government officials.

CJFE calls on the government of Syria to drop all charges and to release these three prisoners, detained solely for peacefully expressing themselves. We ask that while they remain imprisoned, that all three are treated humanely, and will be given access to family visits and provided with any necessary health care.

We thank you for your attention and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Arnold Amber, CJFE President

cc: Jamil Sakr, Ambassador of Syria to Canada
M. Bailey, Ambassador of Canada to Syria