A certain information reveals that the Syrian Journalist, director at Palestine Today TV, Bilal Ahmed Bilal was sentenced to fifteen years in jail after a trial before the military field tribunal.
Bilal is known to cover the events in the city of Moudamia in Damascus using his explicit name also on social networks websites.
September 13th 2013, Syrian authorities arrested Bilal Ahmed Bilal at the Recruitment Division while he was trying to obtain an allowance to leave for Lebanon on assignment, according to some sources, Bilal was severely beaten since the first moment of his arrest and he was detained by Air Force Intelligence.
Bilal is suffering a very bad health in Saidnaya Jail resulting from the brutal torture he was subject to, while he was detained in the Air Force Intelligence, witnesses said.
Bilal Ahmed Bilal, born in Moudamia 1984, is a graduate of Media College, a husband and a father of two children.
We, SCM are gravely concerned about the tragic situation of journalists in Syria while doing their jobs and the deteriorating health of Mr. Bilal, and we condemn the trial of Mr. Bilal by a non-regularly constituted court, affording no judicial guarantees which are generally recognized as indispensable.
Military field tribunal is an exceptional secret court in which no lawyers allowed to attend and no judicial process of any kind is possible just as defense, cassation, appeal and its sentences are to be immediately carried out, which is a clear violation of the charters of the International Bill of Human Rights, and of article no. 10 in particular of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
“Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”
SCM emphasizes the right to full medical care for Mr. Bilal, all prisoners of conscience in the Syrian jails and all other prisoners, and we hold the authorities fully responsible for the safety of their lives and body and mental health.
