L'appel de l'IDHAE au soutien de Me K. Matouk

1. SYRIE - 2 octobre 2012 : KhalilMatouk,
directeur exécutif du Centre syriend’ Etudes et de
Recherches juridiques,
arrêté et détenu au secret .
(IDHAE150131/012)
Le 02Octobre2012,un groupe d'hommesarmés en civilont arrêtéKhalilMatouk, avocat
défenseur droits de l’homme directeur exécutif du Centre syriend’ Etudes et de Recherches
juridiques, à un barrageplacésur la route dela Syrie/ Jordanieinternational.KhalilMatouka
étéarrêté alors qu'ilse rendait de son domicile à Sahnayaà son cabinet à Damas.Il existe un
faisceau d’indices qui démontre que ce grouped'hommes armésfait partiedes forces de
sécuritéen Syrie.
KhalilMatoukest un éminentavocat en matière de droits de l’homme, bien connupour sa
précieuse contributionau Centre syriend’Etudes et de Recherches juridiques et notamment
pour assurer la défense des défenseurs des droits de l’homme détenusen Syrie.
Après son arrestation,le 02Octobre2012,KhalilMatouka étéemmené vers une
destinationinconnueoù il est toujoursdétenu au secret. Il est à craindrequ'ilne soit torturéou
maltraité.
KhalilMatouksouffre decertains problèmes de santéchroniques.Ilrevient tout juste d'un voyage
de traitement à l'extérieurdu pays eta besoin d'unsoinmédical permanent.

2. Syria- 2 October 2012 : Arrest and incommunicado detention of
Khalil Matouk , executive director of the Syrian Centre for Legal
Studies and Research.
On 02 October 2012, a group of armed men in civilian clothes have arrested human rights
lawyer Khalil Matouk, executive director of the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and
Research, at a checkpoint positioned on the Syria/Jordan international Highway. Khalil
Matouk was arrested as he was on his way from home in Sahnaya to his office in the capital
Damascus. There is a strong believe that this group of armed men is part of the security forces
in Syria.
Khalil Matouk is a prominent human rights lawyer, who is well-known for his valuable work
at the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research which includes defending many detained
human rights defenders in Syria.
Following his arrest on 02 October 2012, Khalil Matouk was taken to an unknown destination
where he remains held incommunicado. There are fears that he may be tortured or ill-treated.
Khalil Matouk is suffering from some chronic health problems. He is just back from a
treatment trip outside the country and needs a constant medical care.
IDHAE strongly believes that Khalil Matouk has been arrested as a result of his peaceful and
legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his work to defend the rights of
detainees in Syria. The GCHR is very concerned that the arrest of Khalil Matouk is part of an
ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Syria.
IDHAE expresses deep concern for Khalil Matouk's physical and psychological integrity,
especially given that he has a poor health condition and the fact that torture and ill-treatment
of detainees in Syria is systematic.
IDHAE urges the Russian government as well as other governments that have influence
in Syria, the UN, the EU, and leading human rights organizations to:
1. Call for the immediate release of human rights lawyer Khalil Matouk and all other
human rights defenders who have been detained solely as a result of their legitimate
human rights work;
2. Immediately ensure that Khalid Matouk has access to a doctor and to any medical
treatment that he requires;
3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and
security of Khalid Matouk;

3. 4. Increase the pressure on the Government of Syria to stop the ongoing daily human
rights violations as well as escalating attacks on human rights defenders;
5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Syria are able to
carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of
all restrictions including judicial harassment.
IDHAE respectfully reminds the Syrian government that the United Nations Declaration on
the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and
Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by
consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of
the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out
their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article
6 (b and c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (b) As
provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish,
impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and
fundamental freedoms; (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both
in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and
other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters”, and to Article 12 (1 and
2): “(1) Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in
peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. (2) The
State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities
of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats,
retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action
as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present
Declaration.”
‫– ساو خ ه ي هم ع تىل ىاح تجاسهاو فزادي ا سىري ااع ت مان محام يح مىل اإل ن‬

4. ‫2102 ت شزي ىاألو ل /ب تاري خان ثاو يم ى شهزأك تىب ز‬
‫يم اسل،ةي ى ذدلا س ب ان ذلاو ىدت زي ى ي ذلاو يح ه س ذلالاج زلاومتعىم زن ت ه م ت عا،‬
‫ح مىل اإلو ساو خ ه ي هم ع تىق،ان ذدي زان ت ى ف يذي ه همزك شان سىري ه هذرا سات ىاألب حاث ان مان‬
‫وو يت،ع ىذو مطتت ف ت ي ش تمى ض ع ت ع هيطزي ك‬
‫.األردو ان ذون ي / سىري ا‬
‫ن مذت مان ماءن م ب ض ع هيخ ه ي هم ع تىل ب ي ىماك او ف يطزي مهم ىم ىشن ه ف ي صح ىاي اإني م كت‬
‫.ب ه بان عا صمتدم شك‬
‫.ه ىاك اع ت مادل ىي أو هذاان مجمىعتم ىان زجالان ذ س هح ي ىه يجشءم ى مىات األم ى ف ي سىري ا‬
‫خ ه ي هم ع تىل هىأحذأب زسن شام يح مىل اإلو سان،ف هىم عزوف ب عم ههان م يم ف يان ذرك شان سىري م‬
‫ن ذرا سات ىاألب حاث ان ماو ىو يتوان ذي‬
‫.ان عذي ذم ىان ذداف ع ي ى ع ىح مىل اإلو ساو ان ذع ت م ه ي ى ف ي سىري ت شم الن ذف اع عه‬
‫2102 أك تىب ز 2 ن مذأل ت يذخ ه ي هم ع تىل إني جهتن زهىن تب عذإن ماءان م ب ض ع ه يه في‬
‫ه ىان .‬
‫.ن ساوف م ىأو ه مذي ت عز ض ه ه ت عذي بأو سىءان ذعام هت‬
‫.ي عاو يخ ه ي هم ع تىل م ى ب ع ضان ذ شاك الن حح يتان ذسم ىت‬
‫.ادوح ت تاجإني زعاي تط ب يتم س تمزةن مذعادن تىم ىزح هتع الج خارجان بم‬