KURDWATCH, February 5, 2012 – On January 29, 2012, Khalid Oso (b. 1984) was arrested by members of the Political Security Directorate at his workplace in al-Darbasiyah. The reason for his arrest is not yet known.
KURDWATCH, February 2, 2012 – On January 31, 2012, the bar association’s Court of Professional Conduct in al-Hasakah acquitted the two attorneys Mustafa Khidr Oso und Faisal Badr. [Further information on the case]
KURDWATCH, February 1, 2012 – From January 28 to 29, 2012, the Erbil conference of Syrian Kurds abroad took place in Erbil (Kurdistan/Iraq). The event was organized and financed by the Office of the President of the region Kurdistan/Iraq under the leadership of President Masʿud Barzani. Representatives from the parties of the Kurdish Patriotic Conference in Syria as well as people they selected from abroad took part. In a closing statement, the participants supported the resolutions made by the Kurdish Patriotic Conference in Syria [further information on the resolutions] and condemned the Syrian government’s violence against the general public.
KURDWATCH, 27. Januar 2012 – Bereits am 3. September 2011 ist der Aktivist und Schriftsteller Husain ʿIso in al-Hasaka wegen regimekritischer Aktivitäten festgenommen worden. Iso, der derzeit in al-Qamischli inhaftiert ist, ist herzkrank. Sein Zustand hat sich in den letzten Monaten akut verschlechtert.
KURDWATCH, January 26, 2012—On January 19, 2012, ʿAbdulmajid Tamr was released from custody in Aleppo based on Amnesty Decree No. 10, dated January 15, 2012. Employees of the Political Security Directorate arrested the activist on May 31, 2011 in al-Qamishli and transferred him to the Political Security Directorate in al-Hasakah. During interrogations, Tamr’s eyes and hands were bound; he was tortured with electric billy clubs as well as forced into a tire and beaten (Dulab method). Additionally, he was beaten on the soles of his feet (Falaqa method, bastinado). Tamr was forced to provide his access data for Facebook and Skype as well as the passwords to his e-mail accounts. Fifteen days later, he was brought to the Political Security Directorate in Damascus and also interrogated. Another twenty-five days later, he and other inmates were brought to Aleppo. There, the Military Prosecution raised charges pursuant to Article 285 of the Criminal Code. [Further information on the case]
KURDWATCH, January 21, 2012—Fahima Salih Usi, alias Harvin Usi, an activist for the Kurdish Future Movement in Syria, has announced her resignation from the party. In justifying this step, she cited the change in course that her party has taken following the assassination of party speaker Mishʿal at-Tammu and explained that she wants to be more active »on the ground« again.
KURDWATCH, January 19, 2012—Rezan Bahri Shaykhmus (b. 1962, married, four children) is the chairman of the Kurdish Future Movement's Office of General Communications. The engineer lives in Syria. In a conversation with KurdWatch, Shaikhmus speaks about the Future Movement's political work following the death of its speaker Mishʿal at-Tammu. [Read the interview]
KURDWATCH, January 18, 2012—On January 15, 2012, the Kurdish Patriotic Conference decided that its members should suspend their affiliation with the Syrian oppositional coalitions (Syrian National Council, National Union of the Forces for Democratic Change, and Damascus Declaration) until further notice. The goal is for the Kurdish parties to negotiate with the Syrian opposition as a united block.
KURDWATCH, January 18, 2012—On January 15, 2012, Majdal ʿAbdulfatah ʿUji was released from custody in al-Qamishli. Charges pursuant to Article 285 had been raised against the engineer, who had been in custody since August 26, 2011. ʿUji benefited from Amnesty Decree No. 10, dated January 15, 2012. [Further information on the case]
KURDWATCH, January 18, 2012—Nationwide protests on January 13, 2012 resulted again in numerous dead and injured. Throughout the country, demonstrators united under the slogan »Support for the Free Army« took to the streets to demand the fall of the regime. Protests also took place in al-Qamishli, ʿAmudah, Darbasiyah, ʿAyn al-ʿArab (Kobanî), al-Malikiyah (Dêrik), and Raʾs al-ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê). In al-Qamishli, several demonstrations took place in different districts, including a rally organized by the Kurdish Patriotic Conference. In the district of al-ʿAntariya, supporters of the regime shot over the heads of the demonstrators, who answered by throwing stones. Supporters of the regime also disrupted the demonstration in Raʾs al ʿAyn. As in previous weeks, three separate demonstrations took place in ʿAmudah. The Democratic Union Party (PYD) demonstrated under the slogan »A worthy life«.
KURDWATCH, January 17, 2012—With Decree Number 10, dated January 15, 2012, President Bashar al Assad granted amnesty to all those who, since March 15, 2011, have been charged with crimes or offenses pursuant to Articles 285, 286, 287, 291, 294, 307, 308, 327, and 328 of the Criminal Code. All those who were charged with offenses pursuant to Articles 335 to 339 of the Criminal Code also received amnesty – these articles apply to the right to demonstrate, which was newly regulated by Presidential Decree No. 54, dated April 21, 2011. People who are liable to prosecution for illegal possession of weapons as well as all those who have deserted will also receive amnesty. Anyone who has not yet been arrested will benefit from this amnesty if he turns himself in by January 31, 2012.
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