Nizar Nayyouf

Nizar Nayyouf
Born (1962-05-29) May 29, 1962
Lattakia, Syria
Nationality Syrian
Alma mater American University of Beirut
Occupation Journalist
Known for Syrian dissident
Awards Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
Golden Pen of Freedom Award
World Press Freedom Hero

Nizar Nayyouf (or Nayouf; born 29 May 1962) is a Syrian journalist, human rights activist, and a winner of awards for his work including the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2000[1] and the Golden Pen of Freedom Award in 2001.[2]

Early life and work

Nayyouf was born in Lattakia, Syria. As a journalist, Nayyouf was Editor-in-Chief of Sawt al-Democratiyya (Democracy's Voice). He also co-founded the Committee for the Defence of Democratic Freedom (CDF), of which he is the former Secretary-General. Nayyouf also contributed regularly to the Al-Hurriya Weekly.[1] Nayyouf is married and has one daughter.[3]

On 10 December 1991, the CDF published a four-page tract authored by Nayyouf, denouncing "the confiscation of public and democratic rights”, the “daily aggressions of the security services” and “those who have been forgotten behind the prison-bars of martial law.”[3] In the tract, Nayyouf also criticizes how “a large number of our fellow-citizens were forced to take part in marches and ceremonies” and “people, especially shopkeepers and school children, were obliged to contribute financially to the decorations”.[3]

Arrest and imprisonment

In late 1991, Syrian authorities arrested Nayyouf's wife and young daughter. On 10 January 1992, Nayyouf gave himself up to authorities.[3] While his colleagues were also arrested, as editor-in-chief of Sawt al-Democratiyya, Nayyouf received the harshest sentence.[2] Nayyouf was sentenced on 17 March 1992 to 10 years of hard labour, most of which was spent in solitary confinement in the prison of Mezzeh outside Damascus. He was sentenced for his membership in the CDF, which was banned under the Syrian regime, as well as "disseminating false information".[1]

During his imprisonment, Nayyouf became partially paralysed from the legs down due to being tortured daily over the first two months. In addition, while in prison, he was diagnosed with cancer, which he was not treated for. Nayyouf was repeatedly given the opportunity to be released if he would sign a document recanting his criticism of the Syrian government, but refused.[2] In prison, Nayyouf continued to write and letters in as well as papers out by bribing prison guards.[2]

In 2000, Nayyouf was recognized by the International Press Institute as a World Press Freedom Hero.[4] Nayyouf received the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2001, while he was still jailed and in very poor health.[3] During the Jury session for the Prize, Jury Chairman Oliver Clarke and the jury expressed his concern about Nizar Nayyouf, saying "We are deeply concerned for the very survival of Nizar Nayyouf. We understand that his condition has deteriorated and that his life is in danger". The jury issued a statement as well:

We, the members of the jury, hereby kindly request the Director-General of UNESCO to continue his efforts and discussions with the Syrian authorities so that a solution can be reached for the release of Mr Nayyouf on humanitarian grounds.[1]

Release

Various organizations, including UNESCO and the World Association of Newspapers, endeavoured to secure Nayyouf's release from prison on humanitarian grounds.[2] Syrian President Bashar al-Assad granted Nayyouf's release 10 years after his initial imprisonment, on 6 May 2001 to coincide with the visit of Pope John Paul II to Syria.[5][2] Nayyouf was released into house arrest at first, before being given a full release after international pressure.[5] Nayyouf moved to France and then the UK, as he applied for political asylum, while he sought medical treatment for the damages he suffered from torture during his confinement, which left him partially paralysed.[2][6] In 2002, Nayyouf was granted political asylum in France.[7]

In 2004, Nayyouf gave an interview to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in which he claimed that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein stashed his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in Syria before the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.[7][8] Nayouf claimed that officers of the Special Republican Guard organized the smuggling, with the help of relatives of Bashar al-Assad including Dhu al-Himma Shalish and Assif Shoakat, who is also CEO of Bhaha, an import/export company owned by the Assad family.[9] Nayyouf identified sites near the cities of al-Baida, Tell Sinan, and Sjinsjar as alleged holding sites for Iraqi WMDs.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "World Press Freedom Prize 2000 | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. UNESCO. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nayouf, Nizar (3 May 2002). "Syrian Jails: a Hell on Earth". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Khouri-Dagher, Nadia (May 2000). "Nizar Nayyouf : torturing freedom" (PDF). UNESCO Sources (123): 8–9. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Institute, International Press. "Nizar Nayyouf". ipi.freemedia.at. International Press Institute. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Nizar Nayouf - English PEN". English PEN. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  6. ↑ L'AMJ HONORE LE JOURNALISTE INCARCÉRÉ NIZAR NAYOUF ET LANCE UN APPEL À L'AIDE on IFEX
  7. 1 2 3 Scharf, Avi (30 May 2010). "What Is Assad Hiding in His Backyard?". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Giokaris, John (4 September 2013). "How Did Syria Get Chemical Weapons? Did They Come From Our Old Friend Saddam?". PolicyMic. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "IRAQ'S WEAPONS IN SYRIA: SENIOR SYRIAN JOURNALIST". AFP. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2016.

External links

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