Anwar al-Bunni
Anwar al-Bunni أنور البني | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959 Hama, Syria |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Democracy activist, political prisoner |
| Awards | Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk (2008) German Association of Judges Human Rights Award (2009) |
Anwar al-Bunni (Arabic: أنور البني, born 1959) is a Syrian human rights lawyer who has defended clients such as Riad al-Turk, Riad Seif, the owner of The Lamplighter, (an independent newspaper shut down by the Syrian government), Kurdish protesters, and "dozens of others."[1]
Al-Bunni was born in Hama to a Christian family active in dissident leftist politics.[1] According to an interview with American journalist Robin Wright, he became interested in defending dissidents after being beaten, bayonetted, and having his beard set on fire by Syrian soldiers during a military sweep of Hama in 1981.[1] Wright describes him as having spent "most of his life" defending Syria's political dissidents, often pro bono, and having sold his automobile and office to pay his bills as a result.[2] He was head of the short-lived European Union-funded human rights training centre in Syria called the Center for Legal Research and Studies until it was shut down by the government following his 2006 arrest.[3]
Al-Bunni defended Damascus Spring activist Aref Dalila at his 2002 trial. After presenting a blood-stained handkerchief as evidence that Dalila had been beaten at the prison, he was ordered from the court by a judge and banned from practicing before the Supreme State Security Court.[4]
2006-08 imprisonment
In May 2006 he was detained by security forces after signing the Beirut-Damascus Declaration calling for democratic reform. A year later he was given a five-year sentence for "spreading false or exaggerated news that could weaken national morale, affiliating with an unlicensed political association with an international nature, discrediting state institutions and contacting a foreign country", according to his lawyer.[5] He was also fined the equivalent of US$2,000 for operating the Center for Legal Research and Studies without government permission. Analysts described the sentence as more severe than those previously given for similar offenses, making it a "stark warning to the Syrian opposition".[3]
Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience,[6] and U.S. President George W. Bush named al-Bunni in a speech as a political prisoner unfairly jailed by Syria.[7]
Awards
In 2008 he received the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.[8] The following year he was awarded the Human Rights Award by the German Association of Judges.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Wright, Robin, Dreams and Shadows : the Future of the Middle East, Penguin Press, 2008, pp. 257, 8, 9.
- ^ Wright, Robin, Dreams and Shadows : the Future of the Middle East, Penguin Press, 2008, p. 257.
- ^ a b Hassan M. Fattah (24 April 2007). "Syria jails lawyer over reports of torture". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria: Amnesty International Welcomes Release of Prisoner of Conscience". Amnesty International. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- ^ "Syria jails human rights activist". BBC News. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria: Release and drop charges against human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni". Amnesty International. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ "Road to Damascus". The New York Sun. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ "Dublin: 2008 Front Line Award goes to imprisoned Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni". Front Line Defenders. 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Anwar al-Bunni". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
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