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