Statement about the arrest of Deputy Riad Seif

Yesterday evening, at 6:15 the Syrian authority arrested Mr. Riad Seif, an independent MP and Board Member of the National Society for Human Rights in Syria. Mr. Seif was escorted from his home in Ashrafiah/Sahnaya by the head of the police Department who claimed that the Interior Minister wanted meet Mr. Seif.

We strongly deprecate this arrest that represents a clear violation of the Constitution (Articles 66 &67) and all regulations in force in Syria, So we ask the Syrian authorities to release him immediately.

The resumption of the “National Dialogue Forum” yesterday, where Dr. Burhan Ghalioun delivered a lecture about “the Future of reforms and Changes in Syria – Towards a New National Unanimity”, and Mr. Seif’s investigations about the Mobile Contracts signed by the Syrian government and which referred to the involvement of certain Syrian officials in administrative and financial corruption matters were two main reasons behind the arrest.

We underline Mr. Seif’s right to perform his patriotic responsibilities aimed at strengthening the basic freedoms of the Syrian citizen and defending his rights, the only reason behind Mr. Seif’s arrest.

Damascus – September 6, 2001

The Committee

of the National Dialogue Forum in Syria