Assyrian Organizations Submit Report on Syria to UN

(AINA) -- A joint report by the Assyrian Universal Alliance, the Assyrian Human Rights Network and the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) has been submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Syrian Arab Republic. This is the second UPR of Syria conducted by the UN.

The report highlights the human rights abuses against Assyrians in Syria.

The Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) is the largest Assyrian political party in Syria and several of its members have been detained without warrant by the Syrian regime.

The report cites the case of Gabrielle Moushe, chairman of the ADO's political bureau, who was arrested on December 19, 2013 and held for three years without being charged. He was released two weeks ago.

The report also cites the ISIS capture of 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river in Syria in February 2015, and the abduction of 255 Assyrians. They were subsequently released for ransom over the next year.

The report makes the following recommendations:

Abolish the 2012 Counter-terrorism law and implement new legislation and protections to end the arbitrary arrest and detention of political dissidents

Immediately release all detainees who have yet to be charged or receive a judicial review by a competent judicial body

Implement its due process and fair trial obligations under Article 9(3) of the ICCPR by ensuring each instance or case of preventative detention is reviewed by an impartial judicial body

Launch an independent investigation into all allegations of torture and degrading punishment and prosecute all officer personnel found responsible

Amend the penal code to include penalties against government officials' use of torture or degrading punishment against individuals in detention centers

Take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of civilians from all armed groups, including non-state actors such as the so-called Islamic State

The full report is available here.