Syrian authorities continued to crush freedom of opinion and expression Date: 04-06-2008
Author: CDF
Syrian authorities continued to crush freedom of opinion and expression
Cancellation of a symposium of colleague Mazen Darwish
 
 
 
The Syrian authorities canceled the symposium briefing entitled "Press Freedom", which was set up journalist Mazen Darwish,in  the Arab Cultural Center in al Mezzeh - in Damascus , at four o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday in the 25 \ 5 \ 2008, after a official and prior approval obtaining by the Ministry of Culture, according to the book No. 311 of 15 \ 5 \ 2008. And without clarifying the reasons for the cancellation of this symposium, which was a quarter of an hour before the official deadline specified in the invitation cards that were distributed in the past two days, many journalists and interested people and representatives of some of the diplomatic corps accredited to Damascus and who does On the door of the cultural center in Mezzeh.
Note that, in the same manner, it had been cancelled other activity for the Syrian Center for Media and freedom of expression, in the press club on 5 \ 5 \ 2008, and in four hours before the deadline set by the Union of Journalists in Damascus.
It is noteworthy that our colleague Mazen Darwish is the head of the Syrian Center for Media and freedom of expression, and a member of the Office of the Secretariat (c.d.f) and Vice President of the International Institute for cooperation and support - Brussels. And subjected to detention on the evening of 12 \ 1 \ 2008 while he worked a achievement journalist in Adra - Damascus countryside, where had been some disturbances and problems result incident killed between people, which led to the destruction of some shops and houses a result the reaction of folks. On 11 \ 1 \ 2008 .
He was released on 15 \ 1 \ 2008 after his appearance in front of  the military prosecutor in Damascus of 14 \ 1 \ 2008, where the legacy of military prosecutors decided that the charges against him then:
 inciting sectarianism and inciting sectarian strife and impersonating a journalist for insufficient evidence and For highlighting his card and press the trigger on charges of libel against public administrations State Assembly, on the allegation of a police station Adra presided over by Judge capita military sixth in Damascus and at the lawsuit filed against him by Adra police station on charges of "libel edema departments of the State Assembly." Removed and the trial continues Before a military court in Damascus.
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