Syria: Security forces target relatives of overseas activists

last updated Oct 04, 2011

A newly released report by Amnesty International (AI) provides evidence that the Syrian government is involved in intimidating Syrians protesting outside of Syria and that relatives of these protesters are targeted by security forces in Syria. 30 cases of intimidation have been documented by AI in eight countries – Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US.

: A demonstration in Montreal in solidarity with the people of Syria; Source: Flickr (MA)

In the majority of the cases embassy staff had observed the protesters during their calls for a peaceful transition before urging them to halt their activities. Moreover, the report entitled “Syria: The long reach of the Mukhabaraat” alleges Syrian security forces to deliberately arrest relatives of the exile protesters and in some cases to subject them to torture.

The opposition has established a platform to unify the various different oppositional forces and to bring together their different approaches. However, violence still dominates life in Syria with a political solution unlikely to be developed any time soon. The UN believes that more than 2,700 people have been killed since the beginning of the crackdown.

AI: Campaign to silence Syrian protesters overseas revealed

Guardian: Syria accused of torturing relatives of overseas activists

BBC News: Amnesty: Syrian 'intimidation campaign on dissidents'

Syrian Arab Republic country profile