Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the release in Syria of Mr Al Maleh and the sentencing of Mr Ali Al-Abdullah

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 15 March 2011

A 107/11

Statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton,

on the release in Syria of Mr Al Maleh

and the sentencing of Mr. Ali Al-Abdullah

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and

Vice-President of the Commission, made today the following statement:

“The release of Haitham al Maleh on 8 March 2011 is a positive first step that I hope will be

followed by the full restoration of his civil rights, including the right to travel freely outside Syria

and return.

I reiterate my call on the Government of Syria to reconsider all cases of prisoners of conscience,

including the case of Mr. Al Hassani in accordance with its national Constitution and its

international commitments and to immediately release all such prisoners and fully restore their

civil rights. In this regard the EU expresses deep concerns about the sentencing, on 13 March, of

Mr. Ali Al-Abdullah to one and a half years in prison by the Military Court, after completing his

previous sentence.

Syria must abide by the international commitments it freely entered into, in particular under the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights, which guarantees freedom of opinion and of expression and the right to a fair trial.”

____________________

P R E S S

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 299 97 80 - [email protected]

Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 - [email protected]

[email protected]

www.eeas.europa.eu

EN

بيان الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون حول الإفراج عن المحامي هيثم المالح في سورية والحكم على علي العبد الله، وتدعو إلى إطلاق سراح معتقلي الرأي.