[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 363 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 363

Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross 
violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by 
              the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 2004

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Engel, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. 
Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Pence, Mr. McCotter, 
Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Berman, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Burton of 
     Indiana, Ms. Berkley, and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross 
violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by 
              the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Whereas the Syrian Arab Republic is governed by an authoritarian regime which, 
        according to the 2003 Department of State Report on Human Rights 
        Practices, continues to commit serious human rights abuses, including 
        ``the use of torture'' and ``arbitrary arrest and detention'';
Whereas hundreds of political prisoners in Syria have never been tried for any 
        offense, in violation of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights (General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of December 10, 1948);
Whereas the 2003 Department of State Human Rights Report states that Syria 
        ``significantly restricts freedom of speech and of the press'', that 
        ``freedom of assembly does not exist under the law'', and that ``the 
        Government restricted freedom of association'';
Whereas a recent press law enacted in September 2001 permits Syria to 
        arbitrarily deny or revoke publishing licenses for such vague reasons as 
        ``related to the public interest'', and compels privately owned media 
        sources to submit all material to government censors for clearance;
Whereas Syrian authorities have arrested two journalists for writing articles 
        published in Lebanese newspapers criticizing Syria;
Whereas foreign media correspondents have been expelled from Syria for reporting 
        that runs contrary to what is officially sanctioned by Syria;
Whereas Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares: 
        ``Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this 
        right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to 
        seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and 
        regardless of frontiers.'';
Whereas Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: 
        ``Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and 
        association.'';
Whereas Human Rights Watch reports that Syria maintains its ``pressure on the 
        country's fragile human rights movement through a combination of 
        intimidation, criminal prosecution of leading activists, and 
        imprisonment'';
Whereas Amnesty International has reported that the security forces of Syria are 
        targeting emerging human rights organizations in Syria in an apparent 
        attempt to intimidate those organizations into ceasing their work in 
        Syria;
Whereas attorneys in Syria working with these Syrian human rights organizations 
        have reportedly been harassed and persecuted by the government-
        controlled bar association, which works closely with the ruling Ba'ath 
        Party and the government security forces;
Whereas the criminal law of Syria allows for the acquittal of an accused rapist 
        if the suspect marries the victim;
Whereas the criminal law of Syria provides for reduced sentences in cases of 
        ``honor'' killings;
Whereas the family law of Syria as applied to Muslim women is governed by Sharia 
        (Islamic) law and is discriminatory in marriage, divorce, and 
        inheritance matters;
Whereas Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: ``All are 
        equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to 
        equal protection of the law.'';
Whereas the infringement by Syria on human rights and civil liberties extends 
        into the Lebanese Republic, which it continues to occupy in violation of 
        United Nations Security Council resolutions;
Whereas Human Rights Watch, in its 2003 World Report, stated that: ``Political 
        activists in Lebanon continued to demand the withdrawal of all Syrian 
        forces from the country and organized demonstrations throughout the 
        year, many of which the internal security forces dispersed forcibly'';
Whereas nongovernmental organizations in Lebanon continue their efforts to 
        discover the fate of the nearly 200 ``disappeared'' Lebanese citizens 
        believed to have been the victims of arbitrary detention or 
        ``disappearance'' by the Syrian authorities; and
Whereas Freedom House, in its Special Report to the 59th Session of the United 
        Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2003, classified Syria as ``One of 
        the World's Most Repressive Regimes'' for its severe repression of 
        political and civil liberties and its egregious violations of human 
        dignity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) condemns the numerous violations of fundamental human 
        rights by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic;
            (2) calls on the international community to adopt a 
        resolution at the upcoming 60th Session of the United Nations 
        Commission on Human Rights which details the dismal human 
        rights record of Syria and establishes a Special Rapporteur to 
        further investigate these abuses;
            (3) expresses its support for the people of Syria in their 
        daily struggle for freedom, respect for human rights and civil 
        liberties, democratic self-governance, and the establishment of 
        the rule of law;
            (4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State, 
        acting through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (managed 
        by the Department of State) and other avenues, to reach out to 
        dissidents, human rights activists, and the pro-democracy 
        opposition in Syria, and to assist them in their efforts; and
            (5) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and other 
        policies to seek a democratic government in Syria that will--
                    (A) restore freedom to the people of Syria;
                    (B) cease the illegal occupation by Syria of the 
                Lebanese Republic;
                    (C) abandon support for terrorism by Syria; and
                    (D) live in peace and security with the 
                international community.
                                 <all>