LABWANI TRIAL BEGINS; MALEH RECEIVES 10-DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 002487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SY
SUBJECT: LABWANI TRIAL BEGINS; MALEH RECEIVES 10-DAY
REDUCED SENTENCE

REF: DAMASCUS 686

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4(b)/(d
)


1. (C) LABWANI TRIAL BEGINS: In a packed courtroom of
human rights activists and his family and friends, the trial
of opposition activist Kamal Labwani began on May 29, as
Labwani entered a plea of "not guilty" on the charges of
inciting a foreign power to invade Syria and disseminating
false information. After summoning Labwani, who was not
brought into the courtroom with the other prisoners, the
presiding judge read out the charges and evidence gathered
during Labwani's interrogations, focusing on his November
interview with al-Hurra Television. Labwani stated during
the trial that he had in fact been encouraging dialogue
between the U.S. and Syria, rather than military action by
the U.S., which the judge characterized as "the enemy."
Emboffs attended along with representatives from the British,
Swedish, Polish, Canadian, and European Commission embassies.
The next trial session is scheduled for June 19, when the
prosecutors will present their case and suggested sentence;
the defense will present its case at a later session.


2. (C) MALEH RECEIVES REDUCED SENTENCE: The Damascus
Military Court sentenced human rights activist Haithem
al-Maleh in absentia to three months imprisonment, reduced to
10 days, on May 25, following a trial that has lasted nearly
seven months (reftel). Maleh did not appear at court for the
sentencing. He was convicted of one count of insulting the
army and two counts of insulting court officers, which
potentially carried a sentence of three months and twenty
days imprisonment. The judge reduced the sentence to ten
days imprisonment based on Maleh's age and his profession as
a lawyer. Maleh was found not guilty of insulting the
President. Human rights activist and Maleh's close friend
Salim Kheirbek noted that while the sentence had been
substantially reduced, it was still a conviction for a
misdemeanor. Human Rights Association of Syria President
Ahmed Fayez Fawad noted that he was pleased at the light
sentence, and Kheirbek agreed with him that the sentence is
surprisingly light, considering the SARG's current pressure
on the opposition. Maleh has told the press in a number of
interviews following the sentencing that he plans to appeal
the court's decision.
SECHE