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H.L.C.
Congresswoman
Ros-Lehtinen has introduced a resolution todayto highlight the Syrian
regime Human rights abuses
(Original Signature of Member)
108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H.
CON. RES.
Expressing
the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of
human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by the Government of
the Syrian Arab Republic.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ACKERMAN,
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. PENCE, Mr.
MCCOTTER, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. BERMAN, and Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of
Virginia)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee
on
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing
gross violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people
by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Whereas the Syrian Arab Republic is governed by an authoritarian
regime which, according to the 2003 Department of State Report on Human
Rights Practices, continues to commit serious human rights abuses,
including ‘‘the use of torture’’ and ‘‘arbitrary arrest and
detention’’;
Whereas hundreds of political prisoners in Syria have never been
tried for any offense, in violation of Article 9 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of
December 10, 1948);
Whereas the 2003 Department of State Human Rights Report states
that Syria ‘‘significantly restricts freedom of speech and of the
press’’, that ‘‘freedom of assembly does not exist under the
law’’, and that ‘‘the Government restricted freedom of
association’’;
Whereas a recent press law enacted in September 2001 permits
Syria to arbitrarily deny or revoke publishing licenses for such vague
reasons as ‘‘related to the public interest’’, and compels
privately owned media sources to submit all material to government censors
for clearance;
Whereas Syrian authorities have arrested two journalists for
writing articles published in Lebanese newspapers criticizing Syria;
Whereas, in December 2002, Syrian authorities arrested the
Damascus bureau chief of the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat on charges
of ‘‘publishing false information’’;
Whereas foreign media correspondents have been expelled from
Syria for reporting that runs contrary to what is officially sanctioned by
Syria;
Whereas Article 19 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares: ‘‘Everyone has the
right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to
hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’’;
Whereas Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
states: ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and
association.’’;
Whereas Human Rights Watch reports that Syria maintains its
‘‘pressure on the country’s fragile human rights movement through a
combination of intimidation, criminal prosecution of leading activists,
and imprisonment’’;
Whereas Amnesty International has reported that the security
forces of Syria are targeting emerging human rights organizations in Syria
in an apparent attempt to intimidate those organizations into ceasing
their work in Syria;
Whereas attorneys in Syria working with these Syrian human rights
organizations have reportedly been harassed and persecuted by the
government-controlled bar association, which works closely with the ruling
Ba’ath Party and the government security forces;
Whereas the criminal law of Syria allows for the acquittal of an
accused rapist if the suspect marries the victim;
Whereas the criminal law of Syria provides for reduced sentences
in cases of ‘‘honor’’ killings;
Whereas the family law of Syria as applied to Muslim women is
governed by Sharia (Islamic) law and are discriminatory in marriage,
divorce, and inheritance matters;
Whereas Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
states: ‘‘All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law.’’;
Whereas the
infringement by Syria on human rights and civil liberties extends into the
Lebanese Republic, which it continues to occupy in violation of United
Nations Security Council resolutions;
Whereas Human Rights Watch, in its 2003 World Report, stated that:
‘‘Political activists in Lebanon continued to demand the withdrawal of
all Syrian forces from the country and organized demonstrations throughout
the year, many of which the internal security forces dispersed forcibly’’;
Whereas nongovernmental organizations in Lebanon continue their
efforts to discover the fate of the nearly 200 ‘‘disappeared’’
Lebanese citizens believed to have been the victims of arbitrary detention
or ‘‘disappearance’’ by the Syrian authorities; and
Whereas Freedom House, in its Special Report to the 59th Session
of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2003, classified Syria
as ‘‘One of the World’s Most Repressive Regimes’’ for its severe
repression of political and civil liberties and its egregious violations
of human dignity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House
of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), That
Congress
(1) condemns the numerous violations of fundamental human rights
by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic;
(2) calls on the international community to adopt a resolution at
the upcoming 60th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
which details the dismal human rights record of Syria and establishes a
Special Rapporteur to further investigate these abuses;
(3) expresses its support for the people of Syria in their daily
struggle for freedom, respect for human rights and civil liberties,
democratic self-governance, and the establishment of the rule of law;
(4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State, acting
through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (managed by the Department
of State) and other avenues, to reach out to dissidents, human rights
activists, and the pro-democracy opposition in Syria, and to assist them
in their efforts; and
(5) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and other policies to
seek a democratic government in Syria that will
(A) restore freedom to the people of Syria;
(B) cease the illegal occupation by Syria of the Lebanese
Republic;
(C) abandon support for terrorism by Syria; and
(D) allow Syria to live in peace and security with the
international community.
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