DAMASCUS, Syria, May 23 (UPI) -- Head of the Syrian Organization for Human Rights Abdel Karim Rihawi said a leading rights activist has been accused of seeking to oust the Baathist regime.
Rihawi told United Press International Tuesday that Anwar Bunni, a prominent lawyer, was accused of belonging to a secret organization planning to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.
He said the charge was not directed against other detained rights activists, "a matter that raises our deep concerns."
Bunni and nine other activists rounded up in recent days face accusations of threatening civilian peace, inciting sectarian differences and stirring civil war.
The Syrian security authorities arrested 13 human rights and political activists. It released three and referred the others to the regular judiciary, although they were arrested by intelligence agencies.
"The quick way in which the accused were referred to the judicial authorities is a relatively positive step compared to previous cases in which activists were held without trial for long periods of time and without legal guarantees," Rihawi said.
He quoted an official source as telling him that the accused will be convicted of the charges filed against them, but will be released later by a special pardon from President Assad.
Rihawi called on the Syrian authorities to release all political prisoners, reinstate constitutional and legal life and open up to the people through dialogue.
