2010: Syria: Tal Al-Mallouhi
Bashar al-Assad
Presidential Palace
al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Major Sa’id Mohamed Samour
Ministry of Interior
‘Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
His Excellency Walid al-Mua’llim
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abu Rummaneh
al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
16. October
Your Excellencies,
Blogger charged; fears for safety.
The Writers in Prison Committee of Norwegian PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of Tal Al-Mallouhi a 19 year-old blogger, poet and high school student, who is said to be facing charges of espionage. She has been held incommunicado in Damascus since 27 December 2009, although her detention was not publicised until late August 2010. She is considered to be at risk of torture and ill-treatment, and there are concerns for her well-being in detention. No reason has been made known for the charges against her, although it is feared that Al-Mallouhi could be targeted for her online writings and poems which reportedly discuss political and social issues. International PEN seeks further details of the charges against her, and assurances of her well-being in detention. It urges the Syrian authorities to abide by their obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Yours sincerely
Annaguli Yildam,
Member of Norwegian PEN, WiPC
