Opposition Members in Court

Ten members of the Damascus Declaration group have been individually interrogated by an investigative judge who then ordered them to be detained further, the semi-independent newspaper Champress reported on January 29.



Citing an unnamed human rights organisation, Champress reported that the ten were accused of degrading the dignity of the state, inciting sectarianism, spreading false information and belonging to a secret organisation that seeks to challenge the state. Each of them had two lawyers present.



The accused have denied the charges, saying that they support democratic change based on nationalist principles. They have been held since a crackdown on the Damascus Declaration group began two months ago.



The judge ordered all ten to be detained further, and refused lawyers’ requests for their release.