Damascus - Two dissident members of Syria's parliament accused of slander and incitement are due to stand trial today in a Damascus criminal court, writes Michael Jansen. Mr Mamoun Homsi (45), founder of a parliamentary human rights committee, was detained in August after staging a hunger strike to protest the government's failure to end martial law and curb the security services. Mr. Riyad Seif (55), a businessman who served seven years in parliament, was detained in September after hosting 200 people at a political gathering not given prior approval by the authorities.
On Sunday, the Syrian Human Rights Association urged the authorities to release the two men on health grounds and said they should be tried in civilian court with lawyers present.
An association lawyer, Mr Haitham al-Maleh, called the accusations "baseless". If proven, the charges carry a life sentence.
Another eight dissidents, including Mr Riyad Turk (71), the country's most famous former Communist jailbird, two doctors, a university professor and two human rights lawyers have also been detained and will face similar charges before a state security court. The political crackdown came a year after the President, Dr Bashar al-Assad, succeeded his father. Since taking office, the doctor has issued conflicting signals about political liberalisation and economic reform.