Catherine Ashton on the kidnapping of four human rights activists in Syria

Brussels, 17 December 2013

131217/02

STATEMENT

by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

on the kidnapping of four human rights activists in Syria

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs

and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement

today:

"The High Representative has learned with great concern about the abduction on 11

December of four human rights activists including Razan Zeitouneh from the Damascus

suburb of Douma.

Razan Zeitouneh, the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize, is a courageous

Syrian human rights activist instrumental in organising civil society structures, Local

Coordination Committees and the documentation centre that monitors the atrocities

committed inside Syria. The High Representative finds it unacceptable that peaceful activists,

journalists and other members of civil society committed to improving Syria's future are

targeted.

The High Representative calls for the immediate and unconditional release of detained

human rights activists and their safe return to their communities. She also calls for the

release of all other peaceful civilian and religious figures abducted in Syria."

___________________

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 584 9780- [email protected] @EUHighRepSpox

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

Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 - [email protected]

Nabila Massrali +32 460 75 41 75 – [email protected]

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بيان المتحدث باسم الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون يعرب عن القلق البالغ من خطف أربعة ناشطين حقوقيين بينهم رزان زيتونة في 11 كانون الأول/ ديسمبر 2013 في دوما.