SYRIA: Syrians protesters demand release of relatives from Saudi prisons following executions

Record ID: 278510

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrians protesters demand release of relatives from Saudi prisons following executions
  • Date: 21st April 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PROTEST (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YOUSEF ABOU BAKR, RELATIVE OF A SYRIAN DETAINEE IN SAUDI ARABIA, SAYING: "The Syrian-Saudi relationship is in a dire situation and this has had a negative impact on citizens in both countries, whether in the realms of tourism, commercial ties or crime." PHOTOGRAPH OF ONE OF THREE SYRIAN NATIONALS WHO WERE EXECUTED IN SAUDI PRISONS/ P
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6185N9BP5N8SVBNDPJ3BS7R0R
  • Story Text: Hundreds of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus on Monday (April 21) to demand the release of their relatives and loved ones from Saudi prisons, after three Syrians were executed in Saudi custody.
    Protesters brandished banners asking president Bashar al-Assad to act on their behalf to negotiate the release of some 350 Syrian nationals, most of whom were arrested on charges of drug smuggling.
    Three of the convicts have already been executed and three more are awaiting execution.
    "This is not a proper judgement. Neither God nor the Sharia (Muslim religious law) commands this. Islam is not like this, to cut off the head of a human being and put his wife and children out on the streets,"
    said Amar Safadi, the mother of one of the Syrian detainees in the Saudi kingdom.
    "I want him back, I haven't seen him for two years. I love him so much and I miss him. All the other children have fathers except for me. I don't have one," the tearful daughter of a detainee told Reuters.
    Some of the protesters said they thought worsening bilateral relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia had led to the executions.
    "The Syrian-Saudi relationship is in a dire situation and this has had a negative impact on citizens in both countries, whether in the realms of tourism, commercial ties or crime," said Yousef Abou Bakr.
    Syrian-Saudi relations have soured in recent years over a number of regional issues, including the crisis in Lebanon and the Baathist state's alliance with Shi'ite Iran.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register