The Amnesty International welcomed the move of the Syrian authorities of releasing nine “conscience’s prisoners,” and called for a wider move to include all prisoners.
In an official statement, the Amnesty said that the “positive step should immediately be followed by the release of all remaining prisoners of conscience, including the leading member of the banned Party for Communist Action (PCA) Abd Al Aziz Al Khayyir who is serving a 22-year prison term.”
One of the freed prisoners, Adil Ismael, is a member of the unauthorized Democratic Ba'th party, a rival wing to the ruling Ba'th party, said the statement.
The other eight are members of the banned Party for Communist Action (PCA).
"For many years Amnesty International has been campaigning for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners, and investigations into all cases of 'disappearances'," the human rights organization said. "In November of last year the organization welcomed the release of about 600 prisoners of conscience. However, many more are still in jail. And they should be released at once," Amnesty International concluded – Albawaba.com
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