Syria: Update to SYR16808.E of 8 March 1994 on the treatment of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) members

In an interview with the Amman-based newspaper Shihan, Ali Sadr al-Din al-Bayanuni, Controller General of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Syria, stated that "under Law 49 of 1980 membership in the Muslim Brotherhood is punishable by death" (21-27 Nov. 1998, 6 ).

However, in its 3 July 1998 edition, Mideast Mirror quoted the newspaper Al-Hayat which emphasized that

the Syrian authorities have also been showing a more lenient attitude to political dissent recently, freeing a number of jailed opponents of the regime and allowing others to return home from exile. 

Earlier, a number of leaders of the banned Moslem Brotherhood were allowed back after appealing to Assad for permission to return as private citizens.

Reports on the specific number of political prisoners, including members of the MB, released in June 1998 varies. According to the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat and AFP, Syria released 225 political prisoners (5 June 1998; 4 June 1998). However, on 4 June 1998, AAP NEWSFEED indicated that "Syria has freed more than 200 political prisoners belonging to parties ranging from the Communist Party to the Muslim Brotherhood".  

The Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on 16 May 1998 that Syria's position regarding the MB is that "the door to the homeland is open to those who want to return, and there is no need for special demands and conditions under these circumstances in which the country needs all its sons". In response to this statement, Ali Sadr al-Din al-Bayanuni, Controller General of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria indicated that "mediation between the MB and the Syrian government was taking place on the government's official invitation, but it has not produced any positive results" (ibid.). Ali Sadr al-Din al-Bayanuni further added that "the mediation undertaken last January by Amin Yakan, one of the MB leaders, on his own initiative and with the Syrian officials' approval, was aimed at bringing the views closer and achieving a détente in the group's relations with the government" (ibid.). According to al-Bayanuni, "there is no talk about the group's return, nor were any conditions stipulated for this return [by the Syrian government]", and that "the individual's return is subject to harsh conditions and procedures and takes place through special security channels" (ibid.). In an earlier interview with the Amman-based newspaper Al-Urdun, al-Bayanuni stated that mediation efforts between the MB and the government were held in 1980, 1984 and 1987 and, after several years without contacts, initiatives were again pursued in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (4 May 1998, 1, 15). This information was also provided by Riyad Alam al-Din from the Paris-based newspaper Al-Watan al-Arabi who, in a long 13 February 1998 article on the Syrian MB, further stated that

In 1995, the Syrian President launched a historic initiative toward the Muslim Brothers when he proclaimed a general amnesty that pardoned and released from prison more than 1,200 Muslim Brothers on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the corrective movement. In the wake of this amnesty, Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghaddah, the controller general of the Syrian Muslim Brothers, returned to Aleppo to accelerate the dialogue and the efforts for reconciliation with the régime. However, he soon after returned to Saudi Arabia where he died last year. Although his efforts did not lead to anything worthwhile, Abu Ghaddah's return to Saudi Arabia from Syria was an indication of the failure of the reconciliation. The contacts and the doors, however, remained open between the two sides, which was evident in President Hafiz al-Assad's quick offer to return the body of Abu Ghaddah for burial in Syria. Despite the difficult negotiations, it was clear that the gap between the two sides was narrowing, as admitted by the several officials from both sides and as evident in the fact that several prominent mediators were optimistic and tried to participate in the mediation efforts (18-19).

AAP Newsfeed and Nando.Net corroborated information regarding the release of 1,200 members and supporters of the MB (ibid.; 14 Dec. 1995). Nando.Net added that it was the biggest release of political prisoners connected to the militant MB (ibid.). The same source indicated that the MB "claimed several bombings during the early 1980s in Damascus, Aleppo and other cities" and resulted in civilian casualties (ibid.).

In his article, Riyad Alam al-Din indicated that the conditions for returning to Syria were related only to individuals "who do not have the blood of the Syrian people on their hands" and "was contingent on the admission of the Brothers of their historic mistake" (Al-Watan al-Arabi  13 Feb. 1998). Al-Din also reported information from the leadership of the MB that "some of the returnees were subjected to intensive questioning, interrogation, and detention upon their return while some returning families were not allowed to leave after entering Syria" (ibid.). The newspaper Al-Hayat also provided information on the return of members of the MB.

the MB leadership has turned down a Syrian government offer that Syrian MB leaders living abroad could return to Syria on an individual basis, not on the basis of being members of the MB. The Syrian government offer implies that the returnees should clear their records with the Syrian security authorities and that Syria does not recognize them as members of a political party (Al-Hayat  27 Sept. 1998). 

In a 29 November 1995 report, Amnesty International "welcomed the release of at least hundreds of political prisoners - possibly more than 1,000". AI indicated that the "majority of those released are said to be among those held in connection with membership of the Muslim Brotherhood" (ibid.).

For additional information on the MB in Syria, please consult the 1998 edition of Political Handbook of the World in your Regional Documentation Centre.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

AAP Newsfeed. 4 June 1998. "Syria Frees More than 200 Political Prisoners." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 June 1998. "Libération de 225 Prisonniers Politiques Syriens, Selon la Presse Libanaise".

Al-Hayat [London, in Arabic]. 27 September 1998. "Muslim Brotherhood Denies Reports of Mediation with the Government", (BBC Summary  29 Sept. 1998/NEXIS).

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [London, in Arabic]. 5 June 1998. Salwa al-Ustawani. "Syria Releases 225 Political Prisoners, Among Them Brotherhood Members and Communists", (FBIS-NES-98-156  8 June 1998).

_____. 16 May 1998. "Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is Talking Again About Mediation; Damascus Doubts That Issue Will be Raised Now", (FBIS-NES-98-140  20 May 1998).

Al-Urdun [Amman, in Arabic]. 4 May 1998. "Interview with Ali Sadr al-Din al-Bayanuni, Controller General of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Syria", (FBIS-NES-98-126  6 May 1998).

Al-Watan al-Arabi [Paris, in Arabic]. 13 February 1998. Riyad Alam al-Din. "Syria", (FBIS-NES-98-049  21 Feb. 1998).

Amnesty International. 29 November 1995. Syria: Amnesty International Welcomes Release of Political Prisoners. [Internet] < http://www.amnesty.org.uk/ai_syria_dec6.html > [Accessed on 9 Mar. 1999]

Mideast Mirror. 3 July 1998. "Assad "Names New Chief of Staff and Intelligence Boss"." (NEXIS)

Nando.Net. 14 December 1995. "Syria Frees 1,200 Muslim Militants, Sources". [Internet] < http://www2.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/world/121495/world298t_side2.html > [Accessed on 9 Mar. 1999]

Shihan [Amman, in Arabic]. 21-27 November 1998. Nash'at al-Halabi, Ranya al-Zu'bi. "Interview with Ali Sadr al-Din al-Bayanuni, Controller General of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria", (FBIS-NES-98-326  24 Nov. 1998).