The following is a press release from LCCS regarding concern over Jordan's treatment of refugees fleeing Syria.
In August 2011, Mohamad Issa, a legal activist and the official spokesperson for the Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom, was denied entry to Jordan as he was returning from Turkey. He was attempting to complete his humanitarian task of reviewing cases of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries and documenting their testimonies, after having co-founded an organization committed to justice and human rights. During his stay in Jordan, Mr. Issa took the testimonies of several refugees and was in contact with international rights and media organizations in the quest to expose Syria’s criminal and illegitimate regime. Mr. Issa violated no Jordanian laws during his stay, and was in good standing with Jordanian authorities.
On September 21, 2011, Mr. Issa departed to Cairo on legal business, specifically to file a lawsuit against the Syrian satellite news channel Addounia. He booked a round-trip ticket from the Kingdom of Jordan with no problems. However, upon his return to Amman, Jordan on October 7, he was detained and questioned by authorities at Queen Alia Airport in an interrogation room from 2:00 am to 1:00 pm. At that point, he was pronounced “unwanted” in Jordan and forced to return to Cairo. Mr. Issa had requested to go to Turkey, but Jordanian authorities refused his request, indicating that the alternative was to return to Syria, where he would await an unknown fate at the hands of the very security forces he was investigating.
We, the Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom, are taken aback by Jordan’s position on this issue, as well as the issue of other activists who fled the oppression of the Syrian Regime in hopes of finding safe haven in Jordan, but have been interrogated and closely followed by the Jordanian Intelligence officers.
The Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom calls on the Jordanian authorities to abide by its humanitarian principles with regard to Syrian refugees and dissidents fleeing from the Syrian regime’s oppressive and criminal behavior, displayed since the beginning of the Revolution. We urge the Jordanian authorities to refrain from deporting or denying entry to these victims as long as they abide by Jordanian laws, and to refrain from colluding with the Syrian regime.
The Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom
October 10, 2011
ْFor more information please call the spokesperson of the Syrian Lawyer
Lawyer Mohammad Issa
00201514026225
A Lawyer is Denied Entry to Jordan
In August 2011, Mohamad Issa, a legal activist and the official spokesperson for the Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom, was denied entry to Jordan as he was returning from Turkey. He was attempting to complete his humanitarian task of reviewing cases of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries and documenting their testimonies, after having co-founded an organization committed to justice and human rights. During his stay in Jordan, Mr. Issa took the testimonies of several refugees and was in contact with international rights and media organizations in the quest to expose Syria’s criminal and illegitimate regime. Mr. Issa violated no Jordanian laws during his stay, and was in good standing with Jordanian authorities.
On September 21, 2011, Mr. Issa departed to Cairo on legal business, specifically to file a lawsuit against the Syrian satellite news channel Addounia. He booked a round-trip ticket from the Kingdom of Jordan with no problems. However, upon his return to Amman, Jordan on October 7, he was detained and questioned by authorities at Queen Alia Airport in an interrogation room from 2:00 am to 1:00 pm. At that point, he was pronounced “unwanted” in Jordan and forced to return to Cairo. Mr. Issa had requested to go to Turkey, but Jordanian authorities refused his request, indicating that the alternative was to return to Syria, where he would await an unknown fate at the hands of the very security forces he was investigating.
We, the Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom, are taken aback by Jordan’s position on this issue, as well as the issue of other activists who fled the oppression of the Syrian Regime in hopes of finding safe haven in Jordan, but have been interrogated and closely followed by the Jordanian Intelligence officers.
The Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom calls on the Jordanian authorities to abide by its humanitarian principles with regard to Syrian refugees and dissidents fleeing from the Syrian regime’s oppressive and criminal behavior, displayed since the beginning of the Revolution. We urge the Jordanian authorities to refrain from deporting or denying entry to these victims as long as they abide by Jordanian laws, and to refrain from colluding with the Syrian regime.
The Committee of Syrian Lawyers for Freedom
October 10, 2011
ْFor more information please call the spokesperson of the Syrian Lawyer
Lawyer Mohammad Issa
00201514026225
