International Freedom of Expression Exchange: The global network for free expression
19 March 2010
Alert
Imprisoned human rights advocate denied access to medical treatment
Incident details
Ill health/deteriorating health, Imprisonment
Haitham Maleh, Human rights defenderHaitham Maleh is a prominent 78-year-old Syrian human rights defender who has been imprisoned and subject to inhumane conditions in Syria since October 2009 for speaking out on human rights violations by his government. Maleh has been denied access to medication despite his deteriorating health, "effectively condemning him to a slow death sentence" according to Iyas Maleh.
"This is just one example," Iyas Maleh said. "Countless other human rights defenders throughout the Arab region are imprisoned, tortured, killed, prosecuted, threatened or harassed on a daily basis." According to the CIHRS's annual human rights report, severe repression of human rights defenders has increased in almost all countries within the Arab region over the last several years.
Syria, Egypt and, other Arab countries have continuously denied access to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, despite repeated requests to conduct fact-finding missions. This has resulted in a lack of information and attention by the UN on the worsening situation of human rights defenders in the Arab region. CIHRS strongly urges Arab states to accept visits by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. CIHRS also calls on all Special Rapporteurs, the High Commissioner, and member states of the Human Rights Council to strengthen their commitment to the protection of human rights defenders in the Arab region.
Source:
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
PO Box 117 (Maglis El-Shaab)
Street address: 21 Abd El-Megid El-Remaly St., 7th Floor, Flat no. 71, Bab El Louk
Cairo
Egypt
info (@) cihrs.org
Phone: +202 2 795 1112/+202 27963757
Fax: +202 2 792 1913
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