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| Aref Delila: Sample Appeal |
Please write a polite letter on your personal or institutional letterhead requesting that charges against Aref Dalila be dropped--or copy the one below--and mail to President Bashar al-Assad, Minister of the Interior General Ghazi Kan'an (postage 84¢), and Imad Moustapha, Ambassador of Syria to the U.S. (41¢).
[Date]
His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad
President of the Republic
Presidential Palace
Abu Rummaneh, Al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 332 3410
His Excellency General Ghazi Kan'an
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
Merjeh Circle
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: + 963 11 222 3428
E-mail: admin@civilaffair-moi.gov.sy
Imad Moustapha, Ph.D.
Ambassador of Syria to the U.S.
2215 Wyoming Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 232-6313
E-mail: info@syrembassy.net
Your Excellencies,
I am writing to express my serious concern for writer and former economics professor Dr. Aref Dalila, who has been subject to harassment by the Syrian authorities and imprisoned for his critical writings. I understand that Dr. Dalila is currently being detained in Adra prison in Damascus where he is serving a 10-year sentence that was handed down following a trial that did not comply with international standards. I also understand that Dr. Dalila is reportedly suffering from diabetes and heart disease, conditions which are exacerbated by the poor living standards of the prison.
I strongly feel that the detainment of Dr. Dalila is a means to harass and punish him for daring to speak out on sensitive issues. I respectfully ask that all charges against Dr. Dalila be dropped immediately. I am also concerned with Syrian legislation, such as Emergency Law, in place since 1962, which strictly limit freedom of expression, assembly and association as well as special courts that try political cases with little regard for human rights or due process. I urge your Excellencies to ensure that there be further review of Syrian legislation with the aim of repealing any remaining laws that enable the imprisonment of writers and journalists solely for the practice of their right to freedom of expression.
Sincerely,
[Your name and signature]
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