Free Tariq

Free Tariq

Sami Ben Gharbia, Global Voices [Advox]

On 18-2-2008 the Supreme State Security Court had interrogated Tariq Biasi (1984) who was arrested on 7-7-2007 after charging him with “dwindling the national feeling” and “weakening the national ethos” based on Articles 286-285.

Tariq who was arrested because of a comment left on websites considered “suspicious” by the Syrian government, denied leaving the comment and stated that he saw it only after his arrest. He also asserted that the land line, through which the website was accessed, is not his but for a doctor (there are seven branches for this line and while all of them are used, one of them is used for an internet café).

Tariq explained that he works in computer business and he has nothing to do with politics or anything of the like. His trial was adjourned till 17-3-2008 for the Attorney General to state its demands.

The State Security Court in Damascus has sentenced Tariq to three years after lessening it from six years to three years.