 Haitham Al-Maleh |
On Sunday 15 August 2010, the fifth day of the holy month of Ramadan, Haitham Al-Maleh turns 80. Usually a time for celebration, this year's birthday is no joyous occasion - he's seriously ill, behind bars in Damascus' Adra prison and unable to spend Ramadan with his family.
Iyas Al-Maleh, his son and founder of the Haitham Al-Maleh Foundation, which has spared no efforts in trying to obtain his release, said on the first day of Ramadan :
"Today Mr. Haitham Al-Maleh, while it's exteremely hot in Syria, and his horrible prison conditions did not change, and while he has been having an infection in his intestine for the past week accompanied with diarhea, fasted today and he broke his fast on a boiled potatoe."
Early last month, Haitham Al-Maleh was sentenced to three years imprisonment on charges of 'weakening national sentiment' by Damascus' Military Court, despite the fact that he is a civilian and has never held any military status.
International outcry quickly grew following his abduction by Syrian security forces in October 2009. And while his initial imprisonment was obviously arbitrary, his subsequent trial and sentencing were met with widespread condemnation.
Catherine Ashton, Common Foreign and Security Policy representative within the European Union (EU), said last month that "the EU calls for the immediate release of MM. Al-Maleh, Al-Hassani and Al-Abdullah".
Syrian and International NGOs, the United Nations Human Rights community and governments worldwide have all now garnered support for his release.
Alkarama openly criticizes the Syrian governments sentencing of Haitham Al-Maleh and joins the Al-Maleh family in support of the campaign for his release.