Aktham Nu'aysa, a Syrian human rights activist, has been detained by the government of Syria since April 13, 2004, as part of an effort to crackdown on his continuing human rights activities. Mr. Nu'aysa is the founding member and the President of the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDDLHR). It is believed that Nu'aysa is being held by the authorities in solitary confinement. While in detention, he has reportedly suffered from a stroke and taken to hospital. According to his lawyer, who was briefly allowed to see Mr. Nu'aysa after over a week of an incommunicado detention, the charges against him include "carrying out activities contrary to the socialist system of the state" and "opposing the objectives of the revolution." Aktham Nu'aysa and the CDDLHR had recently published an annual report on human rights violations in Syria, and led a campaign for the lifting of the state of emergency. Mr. Nu'aysa was detained as a prisoner of conscience from 1991 to 1998 because of his human rights work.

To take action on this case, please consult the following Web sites:

• Amnesty International World Wide Action Appeal -
  http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/syr-010604-wwa-eng
• The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) Calls for Actions for Syrian Aktham Naisse -
  www.euromedrights.net/PRVCGI/engelsk-show.asp?id=1910

Further Information on Mr. Nu'aysa's case:

• Syrian Human Rights Committee Denounces the Arrest of Aktham Nu'aysa and Demand His Immediate Release -
  www.shrc.org.uk/data/aspx/d8/1518.aspx
• The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) Special Theme: Free Aktham Naisse! -
  www.euromedrights.net/PRVCGI/engelsk-show.asp?id=1911
• Lawyers' Rights Watch-Canada: Aktham Nu'aysa-Lawyer and Human Rights Defender -
  www.lrwc.org/campaignsummary.php?sid=52