 |
Damascus's First Criminal Court sentenced Sheikh Koki to one year imprisonment on charges of inciting religious and racial discord in Syria. The Court's decision is based on Article 307 of Syria's Penal Code. Previous to this decision, he was charged with "offending the authority of the State, insulting the President of the Republic and acting without the authority of State, thus exposing Syria to security threats or bringing prejudice to Syria's foreign relations," all of which are in accordance with Articles 285 and Article 278 of the Syrian Penal code.
Although the decision is subject to appeal within 30 days, many human rights organisations and activists confirm that the sentence is unjustified and have thus demanded its cancellation. Calls have been made for Sheikh Koki's file to be closed, while others have demanded his immediate release. At his hearing on 7 January 2010, Sheikh Koki denied all charges against him - "history speaks for itself" stressed Koki, a well-known spokesperson for interfaith dialogue, "I am a first and foremost a supporter of national unity".
Sheikh Koki was held in secret detention for more than a month, during which time he was unable to contact neither his family nor his lawyer. Alkarama submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression (SRFDX) on 2 December 2009, finally informing the WGAD of his case on 13 January 2010.
In late November 2009, Sheikh Koki was transferred to Adra's Central Prison in Damascus, despite the fact of never having been presented before a judge. In early 2010, due to the absence of legal proceedings surrounding his case, it became obvious that Sheikh Koki would most likely be subject to a "harsh" conviction if and when his trial was to happen. These fears eventually became a reality.
Alkarama hopes that the Syrian authorities quickly respond to the demands of human rights organisations for Sheikh Koki's immediate release, as well as calls for his case to be closed. Sheikh Koki has been the subject of a series of serious violations, especially considering that the judicial proceedings were an affront to his religious and political views, a practice which is a direct violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, acceded by Syria in 1969.