Take Action! Demand Release of Abdul-Akraim Siqa, Religious Scholar and Political Prisoner in Syria – Held Incommunicado

About Abdul-Akraim Siqa:
Abdul-Akraim Siqa is a religious scholar from Daraya, a town of 180,000 in the Damascus countryside. He is known for teaching non-violence to Daraya youth. Abdul-Akraim has been in prison since 15 July 2011, and his family has not been allowed to communicate with him since. No arrest warrant was issued and no charge has been filed.

Abdul-Akraim Siqa has been arbitrarily detained for 5 long months – that is 5 months too long. We demand his immediate and unconditional release!

TAKE ACTION

1. Join Abdul-Akraim’s support page on Facebook.

2. Write for Abdul-Akraim Siqa:
Please use the below sample letter to urgently demand the immediate and unconditional release of Abdul-Akraim Siqa. The mail should be addressed to the Syrian Embassy in Washington DC, with copies to international foreign ministries worldwide as well as media outlets. Addresses appear below the sample letter.

SAMPLE LETTER:

To the relevant authorities:

I am writing to urgently demand the IMMEDIATE and UNCONDITIONAL release of religious scholar Abdul-Akraim Siqa from arbitrary detention in Syria’s security system.

Abdul-Akraim Siqa was arrested on 15 July 2011 and is currently detained incommunicado, in violation of all relevant national and international laws. Abdul-Akraim is arbitrarily detained. Arbitrary detention is illegal according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 7. Syria signed this Covenant on 21 April, 1969.

In addition, torture is illegal in Syria, both under international law as well as according to Article 28 (3) of the Syrian Constitution. The Penal Code of Syria stipulates punishment for anyone inflicting torture on a person. Syria’s security system is thus fully responsible for the safety, health and physical and psychological well-being of Abdul-Akraim Siqa.

I hold Bashar Assad and the Syrian regime exclusively responsible for the safe return of Abdul-Akraim Siqa, and for all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners currently held in Syria’s detention and prison system. All such detainees should be released immediately and without condition.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

ADDRESSES (copy & paste into your email address line):

To (Syrian Embassy in Washington DC): info@syrembassy.net

cc (Foreign Ministries worldwide): jerzy.buzek@europarl.europa.eu, michael.spindelegger@bmeia.gv.at, kab.bz@diplobel.fed.be, info@mvp.gov.ba, iprd@mfa.government.bg, imprensa@itamaraty.gov.br, imprensa@planalto.gov.br, pm@pm.gc.ca, ministar@mvpei.hr, minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy, podatelna@mzv.cz, udenrigsministeren@um.dk, vminfo@vm.ee, umi@formin.fi, bernard.kouchner@diplomatie.gouv.fr, inform@mfa.gov.ge, guido.westerwelle@auswaertiges-amt.de, gpapandreou@parliament.gr, titkarsag.konz@kum.hu, external@utn.stjr.is, dcpf@mea.gov.in, minister@dfa.ie, gabinetto@cert.esteri.it, segreteria.frattini@esteri.it, mfa.cha@mfa.gov.lv, tonio.borg@gov.mt, secdep@mfa.md, post@mfa.no, DNZPC.Sekretariat@msz.gov.pl, pm@pm.gov.pt, msp@mfa.rs, ministry@mid.ru, miguel.moratinos@maec.es, beatriz.lorenzo@maec.es, registrator@foreign.ministry.se, info@eda.admin.ch, info@mfa.gov.tr, haguew@parliament.uk, stewartkb@state.gov

cc (various media outlets): evening@cbsnews.com, earlyshow@cbs.com, 60m@cbsnews.com, 48hours@cbsnews.com, dateline@nbcuni.com, hardball@msnbc.com, joe@msnbc.com, nightly@nbc.com, today@nbc.com, newshour@pbs.org, ombudsman@npr.org, city@thestar.ca, letters@latimes.com, letters@nytimes.com, Bruce.Wallace@latimes.com, Mark.McGonigle@latimes.com, news-tips@nytimes.com, foreign@nytimes.com, nytnews@nytimes.com, editor@usatoday.com, wsj.ltrs@wsj.com, letters@washpost.com, ombudsman@washpost.com, letters@newsweek.com, letters@time.com, letters@usnews.com, info@ap.org, redaktion@faz.de, redactie@volkskrant.nl, ole.erik.almlid@aftenposten.no, bjorn.hedensjo@dn.se, redaktion@tages-anzeiger.ch, simon.jeffery@guardian.co.uk, redazione.tg5@mediaset.it, redazione.studioapertorm@mediaset.it, skytg24.redazione@skytv.it, segreteria_roma@repubblica.it, roma@lastampa.it, segreteria@unita.it, lorenzocairoli@hotmail.com, redazione@ilmanifesto.it, nadiapizzuti@gmail.com, nadia.pizzuti@ansa.it

Here are some additional addresses to send your appeals to. They include Syrian embassies around the world, the Syrian Mission to the UN, and (VERY important) several offices of the Arab League. (Many thanks to John Burke for these additional addresses):
syremb@cytanet.com.cy, syremb@net.yu, embsiria@loreno.net, embsiria@uol.com.br, sabouni@stonline.sk, hungary@syrianembassy.hu, syrianemb@raha.com, syianemb@cbn.net.id, mofa.aung@mptmail.net.mm, souria@volny.cz, syria@email.it, vienna_embassy@syrianembassy.jet2web.at, embsyria@palmyra.neostrada.pl, syria.em.arm@netsys.am, info@syrianembassy.de, syrianmission@verizonmail.com, arableague@aol.com, arabstat.dept@las.int, asiaaust.dept@las.int, multilateral.dept@las.int, familyhealth.unit@las.int, woman.unit@las.int, communication.dept@las.int, family.dept@las.int, americas.dept@las.int, io.dept@las.int, security.dept@las.int, ns.dept@las.int, missions.dept@las.int, environment.dept@las.int, trade.dept@las.int, esres.dept@las.int, complaint.dept@las.int, inspection.dept@las.int, population.dept@las.int, youthsp.dept@las.int, military.dept@las.int, ecorelation.dept@las.int, arelations.dept@las.int, civilsoc.dept@las.int, protocol.dept@las.int, Aou.dept@las.int, conference.dept@las.int, europe.dept@las.int, humanrights.dept@las.int, civildialogue.dept@las.int, Shoun.arabiyya@las.int, basicservices.dept@las.int, alcouncil.dept@las.int, research.dept@las.int, ajaa.dept@las.int, legal.dept@las.int, healthhum.dept@las.int, central.mail@las.int, socialdev@las.int, socculture.sector@las.int, ecosocial.dept@las.int, media_general.dept@las.int, gs.secretary@las.int, info.sect@las.int, control.sector@las.int, coordination.committee@las.int, psc.dept@las.int, press.dept@las.int, sg.cabinet@las.int, political.dept@las.int, sgdep.cabinet@las.int

Syrian embassy, Great Britan Contact Form

* Photo and biography of Abdul-Akraim Siqa provided by Dr. Mohja Kahf.