Ali al-Abdallah explained

Ali al-Abdallah
Nationality:	Syrian
Known For:	Democracy Activist Political Prisoner
Occupation:	Writer

Ali al-Abdallah is a Syrian writer and human rights activist.^{[1] [2]}

He was arrested in Syria in March 2006.^{[2] [3]} He was again arrested and jailed in 2007 after trying to revive the Damascus Declaration.^{[1] [4]} He was released from Adra Prison on June 23, 2010, and re-imprisoned one day later for writing an article that was critical of Syria's ties with Iran.^{[1] [5]} A Syrian military court charged him with weakening national morale.^[5] The United States asked Syria to free him.^[6]

Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience, "held solely for the peaceful expression of his beliefs", and called for his immediate release.^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Syria jails elderly lawyer for striving to end emergency law . Haaretz . February 26, 2011 . June 13, 2011.
2. News: NewsLibrary. Nl.newsbank.com . March 23, 2006 . June 13, 2011.
3. Book: No Room to Breathe . November 8, 2005 . June 13, 2011. (Organization) . Human Rights Watch .
4. News: Human Rights Watch . Syria: Free Activist Who Criticized Iran – AlertNet . Trust.org . December 17, 2010 . June 13, 2011 . https://archive.today/20130416020952/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/syria-free-activist-who-criticized-iran/ . April 16, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
5. News: Syrian writer held again after release . Gulf Times . June 19, 2010 . June 13, 2011.
6. News: Syria jails elderly government critic for 3 years . Uk.reuters.com . July 4, 2010. June 13, 2011.
7. Web site: Release Syrian prisoner of conscience 'Ali al-'Abdullah . February 4, 2011 . Amnesty International . April 17, 2011.