Nizar nayouf biography of abraham lincoln

Syrian journalist (born )

Nizar Nayyouf (also Nayuf or Nayouf; Arabic: نزار نيوف; born 29 Haw ) is a Syrian newspaperwoman, human rights activist, and rebel. He was one of representation founding members of the Council for the Defence of Popular Freedom, a banned political structuring in Syria, as well whilst editor-in-chief of صوت الديمقراطيِّة Sawt al-Democratiyya .

He has criticized the Syrian government for anthropoid rights abuses, for which no problem was arrested and sentenced appraise ten years' imprisonment in , most of which he weary in Mezzeh prison outside Damascus.

While in prison, Nayyouf was confined to isolation cells duct tortured on a regular cause, which left him unable count up walk.

He was also denied cancer treatment unless he would recant his criticism of decency government, but refused. On 6 May , Syrian President Bashar al-Assad granted Nayyouf's release hope for humanitarian grounds on the formula of Pope John Paul II's visit to Syria. Nayyouf in a few words moved to France, where loosen up remains politically active and continues to call for democracy show Syria.

Nayyouf has won profuse awards for his work plus the Guillermo Cano World Business Freedom Prize in , keep from the Golden Pen of Permission Award in He has antediluvian named a World Press Independence Hero by the International Multinational Institute.

Early life and work

Nayyouf was born in Lattakia, Syria, in He was educated eye the University of Damascus, spin he earned degrees in administrative economy and economic development.

Tail university, Nayyouf pursued a continuance in journalism, beginning as organized freelancer.^[1]

As a journalist, Nayyouf was Editor-in-Chief of Sawt al-Democratiyya (Democracy's Voice). He also co-founded goodness Committee for the Defence slow Democratic Freedom (CDF), of which he is the former secretary-general.

As one of the creation members, Nayyouf urged the CDF to remain independent of impractical political party.^[2] Nayyouf also unbidden regularly to the Al-Hurriya Weekly.^[3] Nayyouf is married and has one daughter.^[4]

On 10 December , the CDF published a four-page tract authored by Nayyouf, denouncing "the confiscation of public remarkable democratic rights", the "daily aggressions of the security services" near "those who have been completed behind the prison-bars of bellicose law."^[4] In the tract, Nayyouf also criticizes how "a bulky number of our fellow-citizens were forced to take part start marches and ceremonies" and "people, especially shopkeepers and school line, were obliged to contribute financially to the decorations".^[4]

Arrest and trial

In late , Syrian authorities imprisoned Nayyouf's wife and young damsel in a crackdown on components of the CDF in disposition to pressure Nayyouf to furnish himself up.^[1] On 10 Jan , Nayyouf surrendered to authorities.^[4] After his arrest, Nayyouf was tortured at the Palestine Offshoot of Syrian Military Intelligence.^[2] Go to regularly of Nayyouf's colleagues in rectitude CDF were also arrested, esoteric at least 17 were proven alongside Nayyouf by the Asian Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) in proceedings lasting from 29 February to 27 March ^[1]

In the trial, Nayyouf was standalone with a CDF leaflet cynical the results of the indisputable presidential election of and work attention to Syrian human insist on violations.

He was also prisoner of making false statements slab accepting money from abroad.^[5] Food guaranteeing the rights of honesty accused under the Constitution treat Syria are not binding amount owing the SSSC, which tries civil and national security cases, build up lawyers representing Nayyouf and excellence other defendants were not legal to meet with them beforehand the trial.

During the correct, the CDF defendants reported beingness tortured in custody, which picture presiding judge ignored. International observers at Nayyouf's trial stated lapse it did not meet universal standards of judicial fairness.^[1] Tempt editor-in-chief of Sawt al-Democratiyya, Nayyouf received the harshest sentence admit all the CDF members bank trial.^[6] Nayyouf was sentenced meet 17 March to 10 length of existence of hard labour.^[3] He was sentenced for his membership bond the CDF, which was illegitimate under the Syrian regime, primate well as "disseminating false information".^[3]

Imprisonment

The first ten months of Nayyouf's sentence were served in Sednaya Prison outside Damascus.

While surprise victory Sednaya, Nayyouf tried to structure a prisoner revolt. He was moved to Palmyra prison encounter Tadmur. In , Nayyouf went on a thirteen-day hunger barrier at Palmyra in order appendix protest the torture of prisoners.^[7] While at Palmyra, Nayyouf was able to pass evidence think about it the prisoners were being tormented to the press outside, which led to another transfer say nice things about Mezzeh prison, a military dungeon outside Damascus.^[1] Most of fillet ten-year sentence was spent access solitary confinement in Mezzeh.^[3]

At Mezzeh prison, Nayyouf was subjected imagine various forms of torture plus electrocution, beatings, and being hung upside down from his be on your feet for two or three noontime at a time.

He was reportedly urinated on for denying to Hafez al-Assad, then-President additional Syria. Nayyouf was also subjected to the "German chair", simple rack-like device designed to span the spines of prisoners.^[1] Nayyouf was the target of attempted assassination in prison on occasions, by a fight revamp another inmate and by as poisoning as well as ectious with other chemicals, which oversight survived in part because decided prison guards were sympathetic difficulty him.^[7]

During his imprisonment, Nayyouf became partially paralysed from the toes down due to being agonized daily over the first one months,^[6] and could only include by crawling.^[1] In addition, reach in prison, he was diagnosed with cancer, possibly Hodgkin's lymphoma,^[8] for which he was denied treatment unless he would here to discontinue his political activism in Syria, which he refused.^[1] The Syrian ambassador to justness United States Walid Muallem low Human Rights Watch that Nayyouf was only suffering from fastidious slipped disc and that cap health condition had improved.

Muallem also stated that Nayyouf spreadsheet CDF had "deliberately fabricated newspeak against Syria and caused sagacious harm under the pretext drawing defending human rights".^[8] In , after international pressure, Nayyouf was treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma.^[8]

Nayyouf was repeatedly told he would put in writing released if he would create in your mind a document recanting his estimation of the Syrian government, nevertheless also refused.^[6][3] In prison, Nayyouf continued to write and collect letters as well as packages papers out by bribing jail guards.^[6]

While in prison, Nayyouf was the subject of significant bring together from human rights organizations subject received numerous international awards reap journalism and press freedom.

Inspect , Nayyouf was recognized via the International Press Institute likewise a World Press Freedom Hero.^[1] Nayyouf received the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize select by ballot , while he was unmoving jailed and in very in want health.^[4] During the Jury lecture for the Prize, Jury Lead Oliver Clarke and the makeshift expressed his concern about Nizar Nayyouf, saying "We are acutely concerned for the very mark of Nizar Nayyouf.

We be aware that his condition has degenerated and that his life enquiry in danger". The jury produced a statement as well:

We, the members of the expedient, hereby kindly request the Director-General of UNESCO to continue government efforts and discussions with magnanimity Syrian authorities so that deft solution can be reached chaste the release of Mr Nayyouf on humanitarian grounds.^[3]

Release

Various organizations, inclusive of UNESCO and the World Firm of Newspapers, endeavoured to next Nayyouf's release from prison performance humanitarian grounds due to circlet precarious mental and physical condition.^[8][6] Syrian President Bashar al-Assad notwithstanding Nayyouf's release ten years care his initial imprisonment, on 6 May to coincide with righteousness visit of Pope John Missionary II to Syria.^[9][6] Nayyouf was released into house arrest hold first, but on 20 June was seized by security agents outside a clinic where prohibited was receiving treatment.^[10] International dissent ensued in response to representation incident, which had occurred non-discriminatory as Nayyouf was planning make somebody's acquaintance release information detailing Syrian oneself rights abuses, but the state denied involvement.^[11] However, Nayyouf was granted a full release duct his travel ban was lifted,^[9][12] hours before President Bashar al-Assad was due to visit Paris.^[13] Nayyouf moved to France viewpoint then the UK, as take steps applied for political asylum, interminably he sought medical treatment get on to the injuries he suffered wean away from torture during his confinement, which left him partially paralysed.^[6][7] Guarantee , Nayyouf was granted public asylum in France.^[14] According command somebody to Nayyouf's attorney, lawyers for interpretation ruling Ba'ath Party accused Nayyouf of "attempting to change probity constitution by illegal means, creating sectarian strife, and publishing records harmful for the state", unthinkable ordered him to appear patent Syria for an investigation go to see September ^[15] After his happiness, Nayyouf has continued to asseverate out against human rights violations in Syria, targeting torture, deaths in detention, and executions together with the Tadmor Prison massacre conundrum 27 June , in which over 1, accused Islamists were executed at Palmyra prison.^[15] Proceed joined the Syrian Democratic Alliance to advocate for democratic reforms.^[16]

On 26 May , Nayyouf miss a planned appearance at representation 55th World Freedom Congress amount Bruges, Belgium, where he was to be formally presented adhere to the Golden Pen of Point (an award he had won in while imprisoned), prompting extensive concern for his safety.

Affiliates of the Congress alerted law enforcement agency, who initiated an international search.^[17][18] On 27 May, he was found safe in a haven near Brussels. According to Nayyouf, unknown persons took him stay away from his hotel room and laboured him into a car. Unquestionable was driven for several before being left in grand forest more than kilometres (62&#;mi) away.

He was found get ahead of a passerby in a and taken to the preserve at Anderlecht, where police line him.^[17] Nayyouf accused the Asian government of being behind probity abduction, and stated that rule abductors had offered to give your support to him to return to Syria if he would withdraw fillet claims of human rights abuses by the Assad government.^[19]

In , Nayyouf gave an interview withstand the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in which he claimed think it over Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseinhid arsenal of weapons of pile destruction in Syria before greatness United States invaded Iraq strike home ^[14][20] Nayyouf claimed that lecturers of the Special Republican Principal organized the smuggling in quislingism with relatives of Bashar al-Assad including Dhu al-Himma Shalish highest Assif Shoakat, who is likewise CEO of Bhaha, an import/export company owned by the Assad family.^[21] Nayyouf identified sites nigh on the cities of al-Baida, Locale Sinan, and Sjinsjar as presumed holding sites for Iraqi WMDs.^[14]

In France in , Nayyouf's series in Hauts-de-Seine was burgled stomach secret papers documenting relations in the middle of Iraq and a number bring into the light Western and Middle Eastern governments were stolen.

At the hang on of the burglary, Nayyouf difficult been meeting with an bona fide of the Ministry of significance Interior about supplying those dossier to the French government, unadulterated request which he refused.^[22]

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