Many Syrians abroad have been vocally expressing their solidarity with the mass pro-reform protests which have rocked Syria since March and to which the Syrian authorities have responded in a manner that Amnesty International has characterized as amounting to crimes against humanity.1 In so doing, they have found themselves systematically monitored and harassed by embassy officials and others believed to be acting on behalf of the Syrian regime and learnt that relatives in Syria have been exposed to intimidation and worse, apparently as a result. The long reach of the feared Syrian mukhabaraat, or intelligence services, seems to be in evidence.2 In this briefing, Amnesty International is documenting the cases of more than 30 Syrian activists living in eight countries in Europe and North and South America - Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA – who say they have faced intimidation from embassy officials and others apparently because of their activities in solidarity with the pro-reform movement in Syria. Many have been filmed and orally intimidated while taking part in protests outside Syrian embassies, while some have been threatened, including with death threats, or physically attacked by individuals believed to be connected to the Syrian regime. Some of the activists have told Amnesty International that relatives living in Syria have been visited and questioned by the security forces about their activities abroad and, in several cases, have been detained and even tortured as an apparent consequence. In conducting its research, Amnesty International has interviewed 20 individuals who say that they and/or their families in Syria have been targeted because of their pro-reform activism outside Syria, as well as other members of Syrian communities abroad, authorities in the countries concerned and others. It has also studied media reports about instances of harassment and intimidation. The briefing reflects statements from authorities in the countries concerned where Amnesty International has been able to obtain them, including any comments that Syrian officials had given them about the allegations. The Syrian authorities have not responded to any previous correspondence this year from Amnesty International raising human rights concerns or requesting access to the country, but the organization will reflect any comments they make on the cases and issues detailed in this briefing in future publications. Amnesty International recognizes that the cases and countries reflected in this briefing may reflect only part of a much wider pattern of harassment and intimidation against Syrians living abroad and will be seeking further information in this regard and documenting it wherever possible.3 The overwhelming responsibility for the reported harassment and intimidation lies of course with those alleged to be responsible and the Syrian authorities must put an immediate end to such practices. However, the governments of all countries in which abuses and misconduct have occurred also have a responsibility to ensure that individuals under their jurisdiction are not being threatened or assaulted for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The law enforcement authorities in these countries should take steps to protect these rights, and should take action when people within their jurisdiction
who are seeking to exercise these rights are subjected to criminal acts including assault and threats of violence. The authorities should act on any credible allegations of such abuses, without necessarily requiring the making of a formal complaint to the police by the people concerned, who may fear that harm may befall them or their families in Syria if they do so. Allegations of such acts should be investigated and, where there is sufficient evidence, the individuals responsible should be prosecuted or, if their diplomatic immunity precludes prosecution, other appropriate measures should be taken against them, which could include declaring them personae non gratae or not acceptable in the receiving country. The authorities in host countries should also take action where there are credible reports that, as a result of the participation of Syrians abroad in pro-reform protests, their family members in Syria have been subjected to human rights violations. Such action could include official complaints made to the Syrian ambassador in the host country or representations made to the Syrian government by the host country’s diplomatic representative in Syria. It is Amnesty International’s intention, by publishing this briefing, to draw attention to the widespread and disturbing nature of the campaign of monitoring and harassment of Syrian activists abroad and thereby to encourage further action by governments around the world to bring such practices to an end.
Full report
Source: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE24/057/2011/en