Mr. Aktham Naisse receives 2005 Martin Ennals Award
Press Release Distributed - 11 October 2005
As Received from the OMCT in a press release

PRESS RELEASE
Syrian Human Rights Defender receives 2005 Martin Ennals Award

Mr. Aktham Naisse, President of the Committees for 
the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), is the 
winner of the 2005 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA).

On Wednesday October 12, 2005, 17h00, Mr. Aktham Naisse will receive the 
award from the hands of Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human 
Rights, during a ceremony at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva, 
within framework of the International North South Media Festival. The 
reception that follows the ceremony is co-sponsored by the Ville de Genève, 
the Canton de Genève, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Human 
Rights First (HRF), International Alert (IA), and International Commission 
of Jurists (ICJ).

This event follows a long active campaign in favour of Mr. Aktham Naisse 
endorsed by OMCT in support of his work for democracy and human rights in 
Syria. In this regards, OMCT together with CDF has recently published a 
report on human rights in Syria submitted to the United Nations Human Rights 
Committee (HRC). This report will be presented to the public during the 
reception.

The Chairman of the Jury, Mr. Hans Thoolen, called Mr. Aktham Naisse “an 
extraordinary example of a man who continues to fight for fundamental rights 
in spite of constant harassment and threats”. Involved for over 30 years in 
the struggle in favour of democracy in Syria, he is one of the founding 
members of CDF, created in 1989, and the publication “Sawt al-Dimokratiyyah” 
(the Voice of Democracy). He was arrested six times for publicly demanding 
respect for human rights. Thus, Mr. Naisse was being charged since 2004 with 
“opposing the objectives of the revolution” and “disseminating false 
information aiming at weakening the State”, risking a prison sentence of 15 
years. Thank to international pressure, he was finally acquitted on June 26, 
2005 by the Supreme State Security Court[1].

A unique collaboration among eleven of the world’s leading non-governmental 
human rights organizations makes the MEA the main award of the human rights 
movement. The jury is composed of the following: Amnesty International, 
Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, International Federation for Human 
Rights, World Organisation Against Torture, International Commission of 
Jurists, German Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, 
International Alert, HURIDOCS and DCI.

The previous laureates are: Lida Yusupova, Russia (2004); Alirio Uribe Muٌoz, 
Colombia (2003); Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad (2002); Peace Brigades 
International (2001); Immaculée Birhaheka, DR Congo (2000); Natasa Kandic, 
Yugoslavia (1999); Eyad El Sarraj, Palestine (1998); Samuel Ruiz Garcيa, 
Mexico (1997); Clement Nwankwo, Nigeria (1996); Asma Jahangir, Pakistan 
(1995); Harry Wu, China (1994).

Geneva - 11 October 2005