Prisoners' Mothers Appeal to Assad

Seventeen mothers of prisoners in Saidnaya prison have signed an appeal asking President Bashar al-Assad to announce what has happened to their sons.



In early July, activists reported that about 25 prisoners were killed and dozens more injured during a riot at the military prison. The authorities have barred visitors from the jail and have not released any details about dead or injured among the prisoners, many of whom are accused of Islamic extremism.



The mothers, who come from Qatan about 40 kilometres southwest of Damascus, accused the government of keeping families in the dark and of burying bodies in secret. Noting that the government has refused to release corpses to families, the mothers called on Assad to announce what has happened to their sons and, if they are still alive, to allow them visiting rights.