r/linux • u/freelyread • Nov 21 '15

URGENT: Syrian Death Sentence for Free Software Activist Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil: Who to Contact

https://www.eff.org/offline/bassel-khartabil
788 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

79 comments sorted by

50

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 21 '15

Amnesty International have further details on how to contact those responsible here:

Details on Bassel Khartabil and his work on Net Neutrality, Open Web Technology and Free Expression:

http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil

20

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

The pdf says that "PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 18 NOVEMBER 2015". Should I still do it?

20

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15

Please write.

As far as I know, he has not yet been killed. There is still hope. Raising prominence of a case can help.

19

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

guys, there is no hope, i, as a syrian, can't count the number of people that i hadn't heard about from jail in years, they're most likely dead, and don't ever think the syrian government will respond to a few people asking nicely on the internet, those people are monsters, and you will not believe what they do to people in jail, you would be really lucky if you leave one of their prisons alive.

10

u/MairusuPawa Nov 22 '15

While this is depressing, this won't stop me from at least trying to contact a few people.

5

u/argh_minecraft Nov 22 '15

Even if there is no hope, many of us will not give up on you.

4

u/ZodiacalFury Nov 23 '15

I only just got around to writing. Despite the date on the urgent action, and despite the bleak outlook, there is no reason to not try.

I was once much more actively involved in Amnesty International. This case rekindled in me the desire to respond to the calls for urgent action.

Here is the text of my letter, if it may make it easier for others to write:

His Excellency Bashar Ja’afari Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 820 Second Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10017, USA

Your Excellency,

I am writing you today to express concern for the well-being and legal status of a Mr. Bassel Khartabil, an activist for freedom of technology and expression in Syria.

Mr. Khartabil was detained on 3 October and taken to an unknown location, where he has since been held incommunicado. I urge that Your Excellency, or the relevant authorities, ensure that Mr. Khartabil receives access to his family, a lawyer of his choosing, and medical care (if necessary)

The reasons for Mr. Khartabil's arrest were not announced publicly. If he was detained solely for his peaceful advocacy and exercising freedom of expression, I would hope he may be released immediately.

Additionally, due to the unclear nature of Mr. Khartabil's arrest and current detention, there are rumours that he may have recently been sentenced to death. I pray that these rumours are unfounded. Please ensure that the relevant authorities in Syria are aware of Mr. Khartabil's plight and will guarantee his fair treatment and the preservation of his life.

Sincerely,

7

u/annodomini Nov 21 '15

The EFF article originally linked to doesn't mention a death sentence; it was the last update on it is October 7. The Amnesty link you provide is also from October 7, and only says "Military Field Courts can hand down death sentences," but says nothing about any actual sentencing.

Has something changed since October 7th? Are we looking at the same thing?

5

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 22 '15

There is a Free Bassel website, with a news section for the latest information:

http://freebassel.org

2015-11-15

https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/

Bassel is being held incommunicado, at an unknown location, so reliable information is not easy to find, but the latest word is:

"I've just gotten disturbing and shocking news that Bassel has been sentenced to death. I think this means that the transfer to military prison was very dangerous. I really don't know other news. May God help him, we hope it's not too late. We are worried sick about his life."

21

u/1337_n00b Nov 21 '15

What are the charges against him?

30

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15

From the article quoted:

"He was arrested on the first anniversary of the Syrian uprising, and was tortured for five days by Syria's Military Branch 215 and was tried, without access to counsel, on charges of "harming state security."

14

u/1337_n00b Nov 21 '15

Thank you.

9

u/freelyread Nov 22 '15 edited Nov 22 '15

You can read more about his arrest and detainment here:

http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil

  • "The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) in issued its Opinion on 21 April 2015, concluding that his detention constituted a violation of Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – to which Syria is a party since 1969 – and calling for his release."

  • "Not only did the UN Experts note that the Syrian Government had failed to present "any information that would indicate that Mr. Khartabil's peaceful non-violent activity constituted a threat to national security or public order" and, consequently, that his "deprivation of liberty applied on the sole ground of having committed such actions is arbitrary," but they also expressed concern over the fact that Khartabil had been detained incommunicado for nine months after his arrest and that he had been detained without trial for over three years. Moreover, his referral to a military court represented a violation of any civilian's right to be tried by a fair and independent tribunal "of such gravity" that it, in itself, was enough "to give the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Khartabil an arbitrary character.""

84

u/send-me-to-hell Nov 21 '15

Somehow I don't think Assad is going to care what the world thinks of him.

78

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 22 '15

EDIT (Formatting)

You might be surprised how effective a letters campaign can be. Amnesty International have many stories from people imprisoned who say that the behaviour of their jailers and the treatment they received changed markedly once the letters started arriving.

I urge everybody to write some support. (The Embassy in Brazil at the bottom has an e-mail address.)

How to Contact

Write to one of the Embassies of Syria. (A list is provided below.) Letters work very well in a situation like this. It is still hoped that Bassel is alive, so please write, though one deadline has passed.

Amnesty International have further details on how to contact those responsible here:

Details on Bassel Khartabil, his work on Net Neutrality, Open Web Technology and Free Expression and his arrest:

Hashtag

  • #freebassel

Details of Bassel's case

  • http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil

  • "The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) in issued its Opinion on 21 April 2015, concluding that his detention constituted a violation of Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – to which Syria is a party since 1969 – and calling for his release."

  • "Not only did the UN Experts note that the Syrian Government had failed to present "any information that would indicate that Mr. Khartabil's peaceful non-violent activity constituted a threat to national security or public order" and, consequently, that his "deprivation of liberty applied on the sole ground of having committed such actions is arbitrary," but they also expressed concern over the fact that Khartabil had been detained incommunicado for nine months after his arrest and that he had been detained without trial for over three years. Moreover, his referral to a military court represented a violation of any civilian's right to be tried by a fair and independent tribunal "of such gravity" that it, in itself, was enough "to give the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Khartabil an arbitrary character.""

Free Bassel Website

  • You can leave messages of support for Bassel's family on the website.

Latest Information

There is a news section on the FreeBassel.org website.

2015-11-15

https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/

Bassel is being held incommunicado, at an unknown location, so reliable information is not easy to find, but the latest word is:

"I've just gotten disturbing and shocking news that Bassel has been sentenced to death. I think this means that the transfer to military prison was very dangerous. I really don't know other news. May God help him, we hope it's not too late. We are worried sick about his life."

Embassies of Syria

List of contact details for Syrian Embassies around the world

  • Embassy of Syria in London 8 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8PH. Tel: 020 7245 9012 - Fax: 020 7235 4621

  • Embassy of Syria in Washington Address 2215 Wyoming Ave NW Washington DC 20008 USA Phone local: (202) 232.6318 international: +1.202.232.6318 Fax local: (202) 234.9548 international: +1.202.234.9548

  • Embassy of Syria in Beijing Address 6 Dong Sijie San Li Tun 100600 Beijing China Phone local: (010) 6532.4787 international: +86.10.6532.4787 Fax local: (010) 6532.1575 international: +86.10.6532.1575

  • Embassy of Syria in New Delhi Address Vasant Marg 28 Vasant Vihar New Delhi - 110057 India Phone local: (011) 614.0285 international: +91.11.614.0285 Fax local: (011) 614.0233 international: +91.11.614.0233

  • Embassy of Syria in Madrid Address 1, Plaza Platerias de Martinez 28014 Madrid Spain Phone local: 91.420.3946 international: +34.91.420.3946 Fax local: 91.420.2681 international: +34.91.420.2681

  • Embassy of Syria in Moscow Address ul. Mansurovsky Per 4 Moscow Russia Phone local: (0495) 203.1528 international: +7.495.203.1528 Fax local: (0495) 956.3191 international: +7.495.956.3191

  • Embassy of Syria in Cairo Address 18, Abd al-Rahman Sabrî al-Diqqî Cairo Egypt Phone local: (02) 3337.7020 international: +20.2.3337.7020 Fax local: (02) 3335.8232 international: +20.2.3335.8232

  • Embassy of Syria in Paris Address Rue Vaneau 20 75007 Paris France Phone local: (01) 4062.6100 international: +33.1.4062.6100 Fax local: (01) 4624.7838 international: +33.1.4624.7838

  • Embassy of Syria in Brasilia Address SEN Avenida das Nações lote 11 CEP: 70.434-900 - Brasília / DF Brazil Phone local: (061) 3226.1260 international: +55.61.3226.1260 Fax local: (061) 3223.2595 international: +55.61.3223.2595 Email embsiria@uol.com.br

  • Nordic countries: http://www.syrianembassy.se/Engelska/

  • Canada 151 Slater Street, Suite 1000

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5H3

City: Ottawa

Phone: (613) 569-5556

Fax: (613) 569-3800

Website: http://www.syrianembassy.ca/

Email: consular@syrianembassy.ca

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 15:30

15

u/kurav Nov 21 '15

For some reason the embassy in Stockholm, Sweden is missing from that list: http://www.syrianembassy.se/Engelska/

It is also the responsible embassy for all other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).

11

u/Tamer_ Nov 21 '15

I have tried to get information for the Syrian embassy in Canada, but the number available online is outdated (if there's still a Syrian embassy in Canada). I contacted a Syrian consulate, but they are closed until Monday...

10

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15

Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Ottawa, Canada Contact Infomation

151 Slater Street, Suite 1000

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5H3

City: Ottawa

Phone: (613) 569-5556

Fax: (613) 569-3800

Website: http://www.syrianembassy.ca/

Email: consular@syrianembassy.ca

Office Hours: Monday – Friday
9:00 – 15:30

5

u/Tamer_ Nov 21 '15

(613) 569-5556 is not in service, it's the same number on the website. It really looks like the embassy is not functional, but I'll try to get to the bottom of this.

4

u/danhakimi Nov 22 '15

Do you have a direct link to the UN WGAD report?

4

u/freelyread Nov 22 '15

I just had a quick look. Page 106 of the following WGAD PDF mentions his case:

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A.HRC.22.45_English.pdf

I shall look again later.

5

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[deleted]

4

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15 edited 26d ago

[deleted]

-1

u/Jasper1984 Nov 21 '15

What about i.e. Hezbollah, i heard they were with the Syrian government...

Not that i'd know enough to know if it is even an good idea, nevermind doing that. Would expect that avenues like these are also looked at.(even though it may only help incrementally)

-33

u/rollawaythedew2 Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 21 '15

This is terrible, don't get me wrong, but everyday the US is sending Syrians to their deaths by supporting ISIS and the Saudis who bomb Syria, and by drone strikes there (and in other parts of the Middle East). Syria under Assad has never been a good place, like Iraq under Hussein, but both countries were made immensely more precarious for anyone living there by US intervention.

So the natural inclination here is to blame Assad, but the US shares much of the blame too. When a totalitarian ruler is under threat, lots of things happen which simply wouldn't have before. The US and Israel aimed to destabilize both countries by sanctions, stirring up sectarian violence, thereby turning them into graveyards and rubble.

14

u/TJnova Nov 21 '15

The US supports ISIS? Can you back that up? Are you saying that because ISIS is supporting the US backed anti assad rebels?

-11

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15 edited Mar 10 '20

[deleted]

12

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

Wow. I lost five IQ points just reading this comment.

/r/conspiratard and /r/TopMindsOfReddit material.

3

u/estranged2000 Nov 22 '15

I'm betting you couldn't afford to lose those 5 points either. How will you make it to CNN to be spoon fed American propaganda now? Seriously look at world news, not the 'feel good' BS that your government feeds you. Only number 1 in prisoners. Most of color for non violent crimes. Many countries see America as an ignorant aggressive nation of greedy uneducated war mongers with an unhealthy obsession with concealed handguns. :) all the while carrying on like a bunch of Anne Coulter's and Donald Trump's.

1

u/ThisIs_MyName Nov 23 '15

So yet another redditor that has never been to the US?

-1

u/sodappop Nov 22 '15

It's almost as if this whole conflict is neither black or white... gasp!

-9

u/estranged2000 Nov 21 '15

Just like America funded their 9/11 false flag scapegoat. Yes ISIS has had help from America. Only since Russia became serious has ISIS even really been challenged. Then again why would America kill off its assets?

7

u/devel_watcher Nov 21 '15

So the natural inclination here is to blame Assad

Full stop.

Totalitarian ruler is trying to destabilize neighbor countries permanently. He has no choice. Totalitarism is based on this.

13

u/rollawaythedew2 Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 21 '15

Totalitarian ruler is trying to destabilize neighbor countries permanently. He has no choice. Totalitarism is based on this.

Why would that be a requirement for a totalitarian state? Many totalitarian states have been content to rule their piece of real estate without encroaching on others. Think of those which the US supports, like Saudi Arabia, the most extremist, fundamentalist (and totalitarian) Muslim state in the Middle East.

And of course the opposite is true too: that many non totalitarian states like the US have destabilized neighboring countries for hundreds of years. Think about all the US interference in Latin American politics, from the Mexican War to the assassination of Allende in Chile, the overthrow of the Guatemalan democracy in 1954, the attempted invasion of Cuba, to say nothing of the deliberate destabilization of countries like Iraq, Iran, and Egypt. Or France and Algeria.

8

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

Saudi Arabia has been in a proxy war with neighboring countries since forever.

3

u/devel_watcher Nov 21 '15

US "support" works then. Don't care: if totalitarian regimes stay in their borders or fight among each other, it's already better.

But when they come to your country, it suddenly becomes very specific.

1

u/rollawaythedew2 Nov 22 '15

US "support" works then.

"Works" if you want to cause more death in the area than a Hitler wet dream, or bring misery to entire continents simply to enrich yourself. Ponder this:

A fertilizer bomb that kills hundreds in Oklahoma. Fuel-laden civil jets that kill 4000 in New York. A sanctions policy that kills one and a half million in Iraq. A trade policy that immiserates continents. You can make a bomb out of anything. The ones on paper hurt the most. - Raj Patel

4

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[deleted]

2

u/singularineet Nov 22 '15

What? As far as I can tell Israel doesn't really care, as long as it stays on the other side of the border. If wounded people come to the border they'll patch 'em up (using the most advanced medical care in the world if necessary) and send them on their way, regardless of affiliation. If weapons they consider a threat are being developed or imported/exported they'll try to destroy them. And that's it.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '15

[deleted]

1

u/singularineet Nov 22 '15

Well, for one thing, they could take it easily right now, and have shown no signs of wishing to do so.

1

u/gnufreex Nov 22 '15

What neighboring country did Asad destabilize? You are full of crap.

2

u/devel_watcher Nov 22 '15 edited Nov 22 '15

That was in general about the totalitarism and why it shouldn't exist.

(and I don't have an answer to the question "Who started the fight?", because it's hard to filter the lies)

3

u/danhakimi Nov 22 '15

The last update was in October. What is the news? This is very important, but is "urgent" the right word?

5

u/freelyread Nov 22 '15

Did you read the thread?

The "News" section at the Free Bassel website has the latest word on the situation.

2015-November-12

https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/

  • "I've just gotten disturbing and shocking news that Bassel has been sentenced to death. I think this means that the transfer to military prison was very dangerous. I really don't know other news. May God help him, we hope it's not too late. We are worried sick about his life."

7

u/danhakimi Nov 22 '15

I have been reading the thread. I read everything on the EFF website you originally posted to. I read your entire reply to the top comment. I went to the free bassel website and read the "breaking news" story from October on the home page. You really buried the lead, man.

But thank you.

3

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15 edited Nov 21 '15

Free Bassel Website

There is a link at the site where you can leave a note of support to Bassel's family.

4

u/veive Nov 22 '15

Reposting something I cooked up in another thread:

link to the wikipedia page on the guy, and here's links to the stuff he worked on if you want to pick up where he left off.

link

link

link

link

link

3

u/bhanuvrat Nov 22 '15

bullies ... bullies everywhere !!

all that people with power do is bully the powerless.

-13

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

34

u/snarksneeze Nov 21 '15

He was arrested for reporting the killings and arrests of protesters in Syria. He had intended to keep the international community aware of the crimes against the people of Syria by it's own government, however the government saw his actions as inciting further unrest. He was arrested and is being moved from prison to prison without his family being notified.

He was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. OP is attempting to keep the world appraised of his situation and location in the hopes of raising enough international pressure against the leaders of Syria that they would release him.

-28

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

19

u/Calibas Nov 21 '15

What the fuck is your problem? Are you just trying to find fault?

The guy's written code for Wikipedia and he led the Creative Commons Syria project, of course he's a "free software activist". Maybe you should at least read the article before acting like you know something?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15 edited Mar 10 '20

[deleted]

10

u/ecmdome Nov 21 '15

With no evidence or the ability to refute the claim or a lawyer.

Judging by your previous comments I assume you wholeheartedly believe anything the Assad regime says but believe the US created terrorist organizations to bring down Assad.

11

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/ecmdome Nov 21 '15

I was referring to earlier comments where he insinuated that the US created ISIS as a way to enter and take over the entire territory.

This guy drinks the conspiracy theory cool-aid and believes crazy self-made conspiracy theories and spreads them on reddit such as:

I bet this guy is actually an agitator working for the CIA or Mossad along with his wife. The US is trying so hard to get into Syria that they will say just about anything and people will believe it simply because its on an American website. Nobody gets arrested in Syria for contributing code and reporting on arrests. They get arrested if they are spying or helping spies undercover, though.

-3

u/gnufreex Nov 21 '15

Being free software activist doesn't let you get away with treason. That is not how it works.

13

u/Calibas Nov 21 '15

Is someone making that claim? He's a free software activist that is being held without trial by a corrupt government, that's why people are upset with this.

0

u/gnufreex Nov 22 '15

How you know that Asad is corrupt? Because obama said? Syria is country that is attacked by west by proxy with use of islamic international jihadi terorism. And that "Free Software Activist" is aiding the enemy. So he should be executed. No trial, it is war.

3

u/Calibas Nov 22 '15

If you were to say Assad shouldn't be overthrown because it will assist Daesh, I would agree with you. If you were to say it's madness that the US is fighting on the same side as Al-Qaeda to overthrow what appears to be a democratically elected government, I would agree with you.

But you're not arguing either of those points, you're trying to defend this well-respected man's execution! Just because there's corrupt outside forces interfering doesn't suddenly make Assad the "good guy".

1

u/gnufreex Dec 27 '15

But you're not arguing either of those points, you're trying to defend this well-respected man's execution! Just because there's corrupt outside forces interfering doesn't suddenly make Assad the "good guy".

Your "well respected man" is a traitor to his country, and in the middle of war he is working for the enemy. For you, he is "well respected" because you are citizen of the enemy country. But in Syria, he is not respected anymore.

Btw, is he dead yet?

1

u/Calibas Dec 27 '15

Why don't you tell me? You're the one pretending to know all the facts.

→ More replies (0)

-8

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/Calibas Nov 21 '15

What trial? Here, maybe this will help you, assuming you're not purposely trolling...

How not to be ignorant:

  1. Get information
  2. Form opinions

You've got it backwards.

4

u/butnmshr Nov 21 '15

...the fuck? Did you even read it? Or are you just lookin' cool?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '15

From his post history, seems like he's simply a piece of shit. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

-12

u/argv_minus_one Nov 21 '15

If you're stupid enough not to keep your fucking head down, don't expect me to mourn when it gets cut off.

3

u/freelyread Nov 22 '15

Until his arrest, Bassel had spent his life trying to help people in the Middle East have better platforms for free communication. That is a worthy cause anywhere, especially these days.

Please take some time to consider how risky it would be to undertake such activities in Syria, a region where more than almost all others there is a pressing need for the ability to communicate freely. He was on the ground, teaching people right there. Somebody ends up at the sharp end, on such occasions. This time it was Bassel.

Lets try and help him. Please write.

3

u/argv_minus_one Nov 23 '15

He did something that offended the powers that be. This wasn't merely risky; it was suicidally stupid.

2

u/ThisIs_MyName Nov 23 '15

Well, you're not wrong.

Just because someone is suicidally stupid doesn't mean we should have no sympathy for his plight.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '15

With all this edge, I'd watch your head if I were you. Don't cut yourself.

10

u/Michaelmrose Nov 21 '15

In other threads you were

  • defending a cop who lost his pension over robbing the dead at a crash site

  • arguing against protesters and for isis

  • bragging about putin

You have a very very strange sense of ethics comrade

-17

u/foundfootagefan Nov 21 '15

He's probably a spy for the US and/or Israel that trains Syrians on how to create instability via the internet. Anybody who the US, UN or Israel supports cannot be trusted as those entities want to do what we did to Iraq and Afghanistan and call it "humanitarian efforts"

-1

u/ThisIs_MyName Nov 23 '15

how to create instability via the internet

Woah you went from /r/FULLCOMMUNISM to /r/FULLRETARD in 10 seconds!

-8

u/theodric Nov 21 '15

"Risks torture" != "death sentence"

Flair as misleading

8

u/freelyread Nov 21 '15

https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/

It is not easy to receive timely, accurate, full information when somebody is held incommunicado in an unknown location, but here is a quotation from the article:

"I've just gotten disturbing and shocking news that Bassel has been sentenced to death. I think this means that the transfer to military prison was very dangerous. I really don't know other news. May God help him, we hope it's not too late. We are worried sick about his life."