Muhannad Al-Hassani

Muhannad Al-Hassani (* 1965 ) is a Syrian human rights lawyer .

activity

Hassani is a human rights lawyer and president of the Syrian human rights organization "Sawasiya". He is a commissioner for the International Commission of Jurists .

He was an outspoken defender of the twelve pro-democracy activists arrested in 2008. The group was part of the coalition known as the “Damascus Declaration”, which campaigned for a peaceful transition to democracy in Syria.

Detention and sentencing

On July 28, 2009, Hassani was arrested after several days of interrogation. On October 28, 2009, the criminal investigation was completed and charges were brought. This was based on Articles 285 and 286 of the Syrian Criminal Code for "declarations with the aim of weakening patriotic feelings or supporting sectarianism or supporting ethnic division when the country is at war or is expecting war."

In June 2010, he was sentenced to three years in prison in Syria. A criminal court in the capital Damascus found Hassani guilty of “spreading false information”.

The Syrian Human Rights League expressed grave concerns about the conviction that "none of the minimum requirements for a fair trial had been met."

Prizes and awards

He received the Martin Ennals Human Rights Prize 2010.

Web links

[1] Martin Ennals Award page, May 7, 2010
Jailed Syrian lawyer wins top human rights award amnesty.org, May 11, 2010, with photo

Individual evidence

↑ ALBERT AJI (AP): Syria sends rights activist to prison for 3 years. The Associated Press, accessed June 25, 2010 .
↑ Opening of the trial held against Mr. Mohannad Al-Hassani - SYR 001/0210 / OBS 022. (No longer available online.) International Federation for Human rights, February 19, 2010, formerly in the original ; Retrieved on June 25, 2010 : "On July 28, 2009, Mr. Muhannad Al-Hassani was arrested after multiple questioning sessions on July 26 and 27. The reported ground for the arrest was that he had allegedly reported on and publicized the trial observations that he carried out before the Sate Security Court. An investigating judge charged him, under Article 286 of the Syrian Penal Code, with "weakening national sentiments" and "spreading false news". "
^ Human rights lawyer sentenced to imprisonment in Syria. NZZ Online, June 23, 2010, accessed on June 25, 2010 .
↑ Syria jails leading rights lawyer. BBC News, June 23, 2010, accessed June 25, 2010 .

personal data
SURNAME	Hassani, Muhannad Al-
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Syrian human rights lawyer
DATE OF BIRTH	1965

[1] ALBERT AJI (AP): Syria sends rights activist to prison for 3 years. The Associated Press, accessed June 25, 2010 .

[2] Opening of the trial held against Mr. Mohannad Al-Hassani - SYR 001/0210 / OBS 022. (No longer available online.) International Federation for Human rights, February 19, 2010, formerly in the original ; Retrieved on June 25, 2010 : "On July 28, 2009, Mr. Muhannad Al-Hassani was arrested after multiple questioning sessions on July 26 and 27. The reported ground for the arrest was that he had allegedly reported on and publicized the trial observations that he carried out before the Sate Security Court. An investigating judge charged him, under Article 286 of the Syrian Penal Code, with "weakening national sentiments" and "spreading false news". "

[3] Human rights lawyer sentenced to imprisonment in Syria. NZZ Online, June 23, 2010, accessed on June 25, 2010 .

[4] Syria jails leading rights lawyer. BBC News, June 23, 2010, accessed June 25, 2010 .