The Presidency of the European Union expresses its deep regret at the sentencing of Dr Kamal Labwani on 10 May 2007 to life imprisonment, commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment.
This verdict against the leader of the Liberal Democratic Union, a Syrian citizen, is based on allegations of intriguing with or contacting a foreign state to incite an act of aggression against Syria, a charge that was only later added to the case against him. On 8 November 2005, Dr Labwani was arrested on a charge of spreading lies or false information. This charge was dropped in 2006 following a general amnesty.
The European Union reiterates its commitment to freedom of opinion and the right to a fair trial, as laid down in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which was ratified by Syria on 21 April 1969. The European Union has serious doubts that these rights of the defendant have been respected. The European Union therefore calls on the relevant Syrian bodies to reverse the judgment.
