Syrian prisoners released in ‘general amnesty’
As dozens of Syrian prisoners are released from a jail in Damascus, human rights campaigners tell Channel 4 News the move is a stunt for the benefit of the outside world.
Under strict supervision from the authorities in Syria, TV cameras filmed dozens of prisoners being set free with Arab League observers apparently monitoring the release.
It is not clear exactly how many prisoners in total will be released.
Thousands of people have died in the government’s crackdown during a 10-month uprising, which has turned increasingly militarised with a growing risk of civil war.
At least 26 people were killed earlier this month and many more wounded in a bomb attack in Damascus.
Syria agreed last month to an Arab League plan that calls for a halt to the crackdown, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry, such as tanks, from cities, the release of all political prisoners, and allowing foreign journalists and human rights workers in.
‘Thousands in custody’
But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Channel 4 News it believes the move is a stunt for the benefit of the international community.
Chief Coordinator Dr Mousab Azzawi said: “Scores or hundreds of people have been collected from the streets randomly a few days ago.
“They (the regime) keep them for days and then get local TV to film their release to show they are releasing people but this is not the case.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says around 42,000 people are in custody with no access to health care and only one meal a day.
It is calling for the international community to intervene in Syria to protect civilians.
Dr Mousab Azzawi said: “There is a risk that peaceful demonstrators will be tempted to hold arms and join the Free Syrian Army and that means the militarisation of the uprising which means we will have a civil war situation in the country.
“Any civil war in Syria would spread very quickly because of the tribal overlap.”
Read more: Has Syria reached the point of no return?
About 200 Arab League observers are working in Syria to verify whether the government is abiding by its agreement to end the military crackdown on dissent.
“The final report of the observers is just a collection of what they have seen in all the areas they have visited and they will not make any decisions nor issue any declarations that are not related to what they watch and see with their own eyes,” said one observer at Damascus Central Prison on Sunday.
“They made an oath that they will be honest, transparent, faithful and objective,” he said.