Guided by our firm commitment to the rule of law, public freedoms, and the right of local communities to peaceful expression, the Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) has joined a coalition of civil society organizations, activists, and citizens in signing a joint statement. We express our deep concern and categorical rejection of the judicial actions and criminal prosecutions targeting representatives of those affected by Legislative Decree No. 66 of 2012.
Issued in September 2012, this highly controversial decree was officially framed as a measure to redevelop unauthorized housing and informal settlements in the Damascus Governorate. In practice, however, international human rights organizations, legal experts, and Syrian activists widely view the law as a thinly veiled legal mechanism for property confiscation, forced displacement, and social engineering aimed at vulnerable communities.
This stance comes in solidarity with Mr. Yasser Abbas “Abu Wasim” (Spokesperson for the Campaign to Repeal Decree 66) and Engineer Ibrahim Sheikh Al-Shabab (Representative of the Mezzeh Neighborhood Committees). Both were detained on broad and vague charges stemming from their public, peaceful, and civic activism advocating for residents’ rights and just restitution, before recently being released on bail while their trials continue.
The Core and Serious Implications of the Case
CCSD, along with the co-signatories, believes that utilizing legislations such as the “Cybercrime Law” and the “Protest Law” to level charges like “weakening the prestige of a public administration,” “defamation,” or “incitement”—solely based on social media posts or media statements demanding housing and property rights—represents a manipulation of the judicial system. It turns the judiciary into a tool of pressure aimed at intimidating and silencing those affected.
The danger of this approach is not confined to the “Mezzeh” area alone; it extends to other regions such as Kafr Souseh, Al-Qadam, Nahr Aisha, Al-Asali, and potentially future areas like Jobar, Al-Qaboun, and Tishreen. Housing and urban planning issues (such as the Marota City and Basilia City projects) are being treated as purely administrative procedures, completely sidelining individual property rights and the rights of displaced persons and refugees, while criminalizing any public criticism of Damascus Governorate’s policies.
Our Position and Urgent Demands
The Center for Civil Society and Democracy emphasizes that the release of the residents’ representatives on bail does not eliminate human rights concerns as long as the judicial prosecution remains active. Therefore, we demand the following:
- Immediate Dropping of Charges: Review and immediately drop all criminal charges based on the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression and community organizing to demand housing rights and fair compensation.
- Ending Security-Centered Approaches to Civil Rights: Ensure that criminal prosecution and detention are not used as tools to manage real estate disputes or to intimidate local communities.
- Amending Broad and Vague Laws: Review and amend legal texts that restrict freedoms (such as the Cybercrime Law) to align them with international human rights standards and the requirements of transitional justice.
- Prioritizing Redress and Restitution: Any genuine and sustainable reconstruction must be victim-centered and community-led, ensuring adequate housing, fair compensation, transparency, and the meaningful participation of residents without fear of retaliation or prosecution.
The path toward building a just and democratic society begins with listening to the voices of those affected and protecting their rights, not by silencing their representatives.
To read the full statement in Arabic please use the following link.