Naharnet Newsdesk - Syria Closes Atassi Forum Despite Pledge of Democratic Reforms

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Syria Closes Atassi Forum Despite Pledge of Democratic Reforms

A political activist claimed Saturday that a Syrian security official demanded she close her political discussion group, three weeks after this hard-line Arab country's ruling party gave support for deeper democratic reforms.
Syrian authorities were unavailable for comment on the claim by Suhair Atassi, who heads a group named after her late father, Jamal Atassi, a prominent critic of Syria's strong-arm government and ruling Baath Party.

Suhair, who was briefly detained in May along with seven other activists, said she would not close down her group, known as the Jamal Atassi Forum, following a purported demand made during a telephone call Thursday by an unidentified man describing himself as a Syrian security official.

The 32-year-old activist said her group has resisted efforts to close for the past four years and that she would only comply with an "official decision" to end its activities made by the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syria has been under intense pressure to speed up democratic reforms. Last month, the Baath Party's Congress recommended political and economic changes, including allowing political parties to form as long as they were secular.

Suhair was detained for more than a week in May for reading a statement by the head of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group at a private gathering.

She said her forum "practices the highest level of democracy and dialogue" and that it "will confront all intimidation."

The arrest of human rights activists and intellectuals would "extremely harm Syria," she added.

Atassi forum member Ali Abdullah, who was arrested separately in May, remains in custody.

The Jamal Atassi Forum is one of the few so-called political salons that emerged in 2001 and survived a police crackdown, in which other leaders were jailed and their gatherings closed. The activities of the Atassi forum, which convenes once a month, remain under government supervision.

Hassan Abdul-Azim, a spokesman for the Democratic National Gathering, said any move to shut Atassi's forum would be "a blow to freedom of expression."

Anwar al-Bunni, a lawyer and a human rights activist, said the purported closure moves "mean Syrian authorities are determined to go on with the policy of repression and stifling public opinion."(AP) (Photo shows Forum directors defying security services)

Beirut, 03 Jul 05, 09:17


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