DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syria issued summonses and arrested dozens of opposition activists, including the brother of political prisoner Anwar Bunni, during International Human Rights Day, human rights groups said on Tuesday.
Authorities acted on Sunday and continued targetting opponents on Monday, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rights campaigners said.
The crackdown targetted around 30 people who signed the 2005 Damascus Declaration calling for "radical change" in Syria and took part in a 163-person protest held on December 1, the groups continued.
Security officials visited the home of writer and protester Akram Bunni, who was elected as secretary of the National Declaration of Damascus Council on December 1, the rights groups and a member of his family added.
In April, his brother, human rights lawyer Anwar Bunni, was jailed for five years after signing the declaration on relations between Lebanon and Syria, its former powerbroker.
The declaration called for Syrians to work in a peaceful manner for radical change and saying the creation of a "national democratic regime" was the way to achieve this change.
"It is a flagrant violation of international treaties on human rights," said the Syrian Human Rights League, adding that they condemned the actions which coincided with international human rights day on Monday.
The National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights and two other NGOs also condemned the arrests.
The Syrian Organisation for Human Rights called on the authorities to release all political prisoners in custody without exception.
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