Human Rights
Syria has a poor human rights record. ODFS promotes human rights in Syria and highlights cases of persecution. Syria operates under a highly restrictive state of emergency. The government systematically represses citizens from all parts of society. Security forces have sweeping powers of arrest and detention. They regularly arrest and detain individuals without just cause. Hundreds of people have been arrested for expressing dissent against the government and for promoting human rights. Many of them have been imprisoned incommunicado without trial. Detainees are often ill treated and tortured. Trials that do take place are in courts which do not respect international standards for fair trials.
The Syrian Kurdish minority is repressed by the regime and faces discrimination and persecution. They are denied equal access to social and economic rights. This state of affairs cannot continue. The Syrian Kurds must be recognised as citizens of Syria with full rights.