Media freedom body calls on Syria to free detainees

The Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) has called on Syria to release all journalists, writers and bloggers who have been subjected to enforced disappearance. The rights group called on the Syrian government to provide information about the whereabouts of all those detained in violation of their right to free expression and to release them immediately. “We further call on all interested parties, specifically United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan, to seek assurances that everyone will be allowed to safely and freely report on human rights violations during the ongoing conflict,” a release issued by the DCMF said. The rights group called on the Syrian authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts of all detained human rights defenders, journalists, writers and bloggers, and to ensure they have unrestricted access to their family, lawyers; and guarantee that they are protected from any torture or other ill-treatment; The group also called on the Syrian government to respect its international obligations.