Amnesty International, the London-based human rights organization, has conveyed its concern to Syrian President Hafez Assad over recent public hangings staged in Damascus. In a separate development, it also protested to the Lebanese government about atrocities committed by Shiite Amal forces against Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, the World Jewish Congress reported here.
According to the United Kingdom Office of the WJC, Amnesty International reacted to the public hangings of six individuals on May 14. All six had been convicted of spying for Israel and “jeopardizing state security.” Three were hanged in the Abbasids Square in the Syrian capital and the others at Artuz near Damascus.
On receiving reports of these executions, Amnesty International expressed its concern to Assad and reiterated its unconditional opposition to the death penalty. The organization publicized its protest in its regular monthly newsletter, which included a photograph of the hangings.
On May 30, Amnesty International telexed Lebanese President Amin Gemayel and Justice Minister Nabih Berri (who is also the leader of the Amal militia) calling for an investigation into reports that Palestinians captured by Amal forces in the refugee camps were tortured and killed.
Among the allegations, the human rights body said, were that some of the prisoners had been beaten, that 50 bodies had been taken out of Amal’s interrogation centers in Beirut, and that others, including some in hospitals, had been summarily executed.
Amnesty International noted that such abuses were violations of international human rights agreements, including the Geneva Convention, and added that charges that Lebanese troops had been involved in such acts made government action even more imperative.
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