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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 August 2000 Issue No. 494 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 August 2000 Issue No. 494
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Their brother's keeper
By Mahmoud Abdel-WahabWithout making any official announcement, Syrian authorities recently released 30 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the first signal that newly elected President Bashar Al-Assad might be on the road towards easing political restrictions after his father's death on 10 June.
According to informed sources, more political prisoners are expected to be released soon, including Brotherhood members and others belonging to the banned Communist Action Group. In all cases, those released had already finished their prison terms after they were convicted with joining illegal groups and threatening the state's security. But like several other Arab countries where emergency laws are in effect, political prisoners could remain in jail nearly forever as these exceptional laws grant authorities wide detention powers.
Even days after reports came out of Damascus that political prisoners had been released, members of the Brotherhood group in exile said they were not certain how many people regained their freedom. A spokesman for the group said they welcomed the release of any prisoners, "but that would remain to be not enough," a Jordan-based Muslim Brotherhood member was quoted as saying by news agencies. "There are thousands of others who remain illegally held in Syrian jails. We also want the new leadership to ease many of the existing political restrictions and to allow us to return home [Syria] and practice freely our political activity," he added.
This was nearly the same reaction by political circles in Syria: welcoming any releases, but looking for more after 30 years of Assad's rule in which any form of political dissent was immediately suppressed.
France, though it does not see eye to eye with Damascus, also welcomed reports on the release of prisoners in Syria. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said Paris welcomed any steps towards the improvement of the human rights record in Syria.
There is no exact figure on the number of political prisoners in Syria. However, thousands of Brotherhood members were arrested in the early 1980s when they led an armed rebellion in which they attacked army camps and civilian targets. The Syrian army, led at that time by Assad's brother, Rifaat, bombed and shelled the city of Hamah to quell the rebellion.
The release of a limited number of prisoners, however, was not the only "reform" measure taken by Bashar since he officially became president on 17 July. Last month, the Syrian government announced that the imprisonment penalty for those who escape compulsory military service was dropped and people could pay a fine instead. This would allow thousands of Syrians abroad to return home without fearing jail, by paying the fine instead.
Moreover, a reshuffle took place in the Syrian media establishment, appointing two new editors for government owned newspapers and replacing the director of the Syrian television. Meanwhile, writers in the Syrian press have been calling openly for the first time for allowing the existence of independent newspapers. By law, political parties could exist in Syria. But all existing political parties have allied themselves with the ruling Baath and their deputies in parliament have never voted against the government. Expectations now is that these parties might be allowed to publish their own papers to implement Bashar's promises on strengthening democracy in Syria.
Furthermore, authorities announced on Thursday that they would add 200,000 new Internet connections by 2001, moving swiftly on a project that is close to the heart of Bashar who built his reputation as the man who will take Syria into the computer age. Until recently, there were no Internet service providers in Syria. Those who got connected through providers in nearby Lebanon faced a hefty penalty and the cancellation of their telephone line. Until now, Internet access remains limited and tightly controlled, but the new connections which the government would provide will make "Internet available for everybody," according to Saadallah Agha Al-Kalaa, board member of the Syrian Computer Society, headed until Assad's death by Bashar.
By virtue of change or age, Syria's Bashar is definitely expected to carry out reforms, but most observers do not expect them to be radical or fast. One aspect where change is not expected is the Syrian regime's stand on peace talks with Israel. Bashar met on Sunday with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Edward Walker, who briefed him on the results of the failed Camp David summit and stalled talks with Palestinian. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa reaffirmed that "any solution in the Middle East should be just and comprehensive and should include Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories to the line of 4 June 1967."
Related stories:
The great divides - 20 - 26 July 2000
Demons no longer deferred - 13 - 19 July 2000
Focus: Camp David II - 13 - 19 July 2000
