Syrian activist, Anas al-Shogre, has been detained incommunicado since his arrest on the night of 14-15 May, apparently for calling for and leading protests in the coastal city of Banias, Syria. He is at serious risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
According to a Syrian human rights activist, Anas al-Shogre, a 23-year-old university student, was arrested while in hiding during a security operation in Banias that started on 7 May.
The Syrian authorities have not said where he is being held. One of his brothers who is living outside Syria told Amnesty International that the family learned from some former detainees, who were also arrested during the security operation in Banias and later released, that Anas al-Shogre was being held in solitary confinement at the Military Security branch in the city of Tartus, south of Banias. The former detainees alleged that he was later transferred to the State Security branch in Damascus. They also informed Anas al-Shogre’s family that while in the Military Security branch they heard him scream “I don’t want to live, let me die”, raising fears he was being tortured or otherwise ill-treated. His family visited that branch and asked for him on a number of occasions. Military Security personnel confirmed that he was being held at a security branch, but said they had no right to ask about him while he was held in such an establishment and refused to provide further details.
The Syrian authorities have not revealed the reasons for Anas al-Shogre’s arrest, but Addounia, a private TV channel perceived to be close to the authorities, reportedly announced that the purpose of the security operation in Banias was to arrest the “terrorist” Anas al-Shogre who leads an “armed group”. His family and local human rights activists believe, however, that Anas al-Shogre’s arrest is related to his involvement in calling for and leading protests in the city of Banias and for reporting to the media, including BBC Arabic, on human rights violations that were committed by the Syrian authorities in that city. Amnesty International believes that Anas al-Shogre may be a prisoner of conscience detained for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
