Egyptian lawyer Farid El Deeb has announced that the Syrian authorities have refused to grant him permission to defend Abdel Halim Khaddam, the former Vice President of the Republic. Khaddam is facing an arrest warrant issued by the Syrian military investigating judge in absentia for charges of “high treason and corruption.”
In a statement, Al-Deeb mentioned that the Syrian lawyers hired by Khaddam to represent him “were under pressure and did not attend” the hearing, which took place on April 24 at the Court of First Instance in Baniyas, northwestern Syria. The hearing has been postponed until June 12.
Furthermore, Al-Deeb explained that Khaddam had provided official powers of attorney to authorize him to defend both himself and his family members. He cited Article 10 of Syrian law, which grants the right to plead in Syria to Arab lawyers registered in any of the Arab countries, subject to the approval of the Syrian Bar Association represented by Walid Al-Tesh.
Al-Deeb argued that the actions of the Syrian authorities violate international conventions, the Constitution, and Syrian laws. He stated, “It is evident that the concerned Syrian authorities unlawfully denied Khaddam and his family members the right to be defended by proxy. Consequently, any measures or judgments taken against him in this case should be deemed invalid.”
Khaddam played a prominent role in the founding conference of the Syrian opposition National Salvation Front. During a recent event in London, he called on Syrians to “overcome their fear” and rise up against the regime. He also appealed to the armed forces and the Arab Baath Socialist Party to turn against the current regime.
