Human Rights Watch says arrests continuing in Syria

Beirut - The New-York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Sunday that Syrian security forces were continuing a nationwide campaign of arbitrary arrests and intimidation against political activists.

Some of the arrested activists were being forced to sign undertakings to stop protesting against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, it said.

'Syria's leaders talk about a war against terrorists, but what we see on the ground is a war against ordinary Syrians - lawyers, human rights activists, and university students - who are calling for democratic changes in their country,' said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

The organization urged Syria's authorities to reveal the location of those detained and to ensure they came to no harm.

According to the statement, Syrian security forces have resorted to detaining relatives and neighbours of government critics. Human rights groups say more than 775 people have been killed in Syria since mid-March.


(2011-5-15/monstersandcritics.com)