Alkarama is deeply concerned by the Syria security forces' continued use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Syria, and is informed that the Syrian army has setup a blockade around the port city of Banias, northwest of Syria. The blockade follows an intensification by the Syrian forces long disturbance that has left many dead throughout Syria.

Maan Aloudat, arrested during protests in Syria

Maan Aloudat, 52, was arrested and beaten by security forces on 2 April 2011 during demonstrations in Deraa, Syria. He currently still in custody. Maan Aloudat is the brother of Dr Haytham Manaa, a Paris-based Syrian human rights defender and spokesman of the Arab Commission for Human Rights.

During his arrest, he was brutally beaten by security forces and forcibly taken to the Deraa's Political Security headquarters, where he joined other detained demonstrators. According to testimonies from two recently released co-detainees, he was severely tortured by security officials while in custody.

Alkarama is deeply concerned by the Syria security forces' continued use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Syria. Alkarama has confirmed 70 more deaths as a result lethal force used by the Syrian authorities against protesters. This total comes on the back of the case of 58 dead, which Alkarama submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions on 30 March 2011.