19 December 2014

Syria: Human Rights Defenders Jadia Nawfal and Omar Al Shaar Finally Set Free

Alkarama welcomes the release, on 18 December 2014, of Jadia Abdallah Nawfal and Omar Al Shaar two Syrian human rights defenders arrested on their return from Beirut where they were attending human rights conferences and workshops. Detained in Adra Prison, they were freed yesterday following a decision issued by the investigating judge.

Nawfal, Director of the Syrian Centre for Democracy and Civil Rights, and Al Shaar, editor-in-chief of the Day Press News' English section, were arrested on 31 October at the Lebanese border and handed over to the Syrian Political Security services, before going missing.

In light of the information, Alkarama had urged the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Michel Forst, to call upon the Syrian authorities to release them both immediately, as their arrests and consequent disappearances represented clear reprisals for their peaceful and legitimate work as longstanding human rights activists.

"I am thrilled to hear that Nawfal and Al Shaar got home safely after almost 50 days in detention," says Inès Osman, Alkarama's Legal Coordinator for the Mashreq. "We see the Syrian authorities tirelessly harassing and retaliating against human rights defenders, which is totally unacceptable. The case of Nawfal and Al Shaar is one case too many, and we must not forget that despite this good news, hundreds of activists still remain behind bars in Syria."

Alkarama will continue to call upon the Syrian authorities to ensure that Human Rights Defenders are able to peacefully express themselves, without any fear of reprisals, as per Resolution 12/2 of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

For more information or an interview, please contact the media team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Dir: +41 22 734 1007 Ext: 810)

Mauritania - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Accessed on 17.11.2004
Optional Protocol: No

State report: Due on 01.11.2017 (2nd)
Last concluding observations: 20.11.2013

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 17.11.2004
Optional Protocol: Yes
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): No
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Due on 31.05.2017 (2nd)
Last concluding observations: 18.06.2013

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

CED: Ratified on 03.10.2012
Art. 33 (Inquiry procedure): Yes

State report: Overdue since 03.11.2014
Last concluding observations: N/A

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 11.2010 (1st cycle)
Next review: 2015 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) – Status A

Last review: 05.2011
Next review: 2016