Alkarama was informed that over the last month many peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, political activists and bloggers were arrested or threatened all over Syria. They allegedly called for or participated peaceful demonstrations with the aim of improving the human rights situation and fight against corruption in Syria in the context of a wave of peaceful popular protests in the Arab region calling for democratic change. Peaceful sit-ins took place in Bab Tuma square on 2 February 2011, for example, or near the Libyan Embassy in Damascus on 22 February 2011. They had been organised to call for the respect of the rights of the Libyan and Egyptian people. During these sit-ins, the Syrian authorities used excessive force to disperse protesters before arresting many of them.

Ziad Ramadan, the 35 year old Syrian detained by the authorities as a "key witness" in the investigation of the assassination of Hariri, was sentenced to 6 years on Monday in a trial which seriously violates international legal norms. This sentence comes despite the United Nation's call for the Syrian authorities to "immediately release Mr. Ramadan and accord him reparation".