The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its profound concern and displeasure regarding crisis of justice status in Syria which, pictured as an aggressive attack against human rights activists and legal profession. This assault notifies collapse of justice status in the case if it will go on as happening for legal profession in Syria now.

ACIJLP indicates that attack on independence of legal profession in Syria can be represented by infringing of Syrian authorities for basic principles of the United Nations on role of lawyers particularly, articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 23.

Syrian authorities unprecedentedly arrested, by military security services in Latikia city, Mr. Aktham Naisse, lawyer and President of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), on Wednesday 14 April 2004.Conditions point out that reasons of detention are relating to Aktham’s practicing of his rights to freedom of opinion and expression and his call upon Syrian authority to achieve political and democratic reform. As well as, for the reason of Naisse’s role in monitoring human rights violations in Syria particularly, he has not been charged yet and has not the chance to be heard by judiciary. 

ACIJLP expresses its extreme concern also concerning rejection of Syrian Security Authorities to present any information relating to arrest place of Mr. Aktham Naisse. Accordingly, he will not be able to have an access to legal assistance that might be unsafe for his life. ACIJLP burdens Syrain authority the responsibility to the lawyer Aktham’s body safe. The center announces its complete solidarity with Syrian lawyer, Aktham Naisse. It also demands immediate release of Aktham and not for tracing human rights activists. Furthermore, ACIJLP appeals upon related international and regional institutions to address UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to intervene immediately for the purpose of eliminating exposure of principle of independence of legal profession in Syria to violations .