1 June, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the assasination of Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi, right, the Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds (RKR) appeals to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to put pressure on Syria to initiate an independent investigation of this murder, with a view to bring the responsible to justice. (17-JUNE-07)

Based on the article published on RKR´s own website www.kurdistan.no, this article has been translated and prepared for publication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

To read also Amnesty Inernational´s document on Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi´s case, click here .

Many killed, many others tortured
In Syria, the Kurdish minority has for many years been subjected to a broad policy of assimilation. The authorities´ strategy is marked by a general sidelining of the rightful interests and needs of all national minorities in the country. The aim, it seems, is to undermine the entire Kurdish culture and existence. Ever since 1962, Kurds have lost and been denied renewal of their citizenship. The Kurdish areas in the north-east of Syria have been subjectd to intense and all-encompassing arabification. The Kurdish language is prohibited and Kurds have had practically all social, cultural and political rights taken away from them. During and after the popular uprising of 12 March 2004, shots were fired at Kurdish protesters. Many were killed. Many others have been injured for life by the torture they have suffered at the hands of Syrian police, security and army forces.

If it´s to do with the Kurdish issue, there is no law
1 June marked the second anniversary of the finding of the dead body of the Quran scholar and moderate Kurdish rights campaigner Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi was found dead, after having been missing for three weeks. His killers are still at large, in a country were the law and judiciary cannot be said to function, particularly not in relation to the Kurdish issue. Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi was, in addition to his strong loyalty to the Kurdish issue, well known for his moderate role among Moslem scholars He spoke out against religious fundamentalism and acts of terror in the name of islam. Al-Kaznawi had good relations with numerous religious leaders, both Christian and Moslem, throughout Europe. As a consequence of his struggle for economic and political reforms in Syria, and the increasing popularity he gained as a campaigner for the rights of the Kurds, he was, on his return from Europe, where, among other things, he had participated in a conference in Oslo on religion and its role in peacemaking, kidnapped and disappeared 10 May 2005.

-We know where he is. No, we don´t
After the kidnapping, the then Minister of the Interior in Syria confirmed towards al-Kaznawi´s family that Syrian authorities knew his whereabouts. Towards the mass media, though, the same authorities denied any further knowledge of the kidnapping, including al-Kaznawi´s whereabouts. The authorities´ self-contradictory attitude towards al-Kaznawi´s case caused demonstrations both in Syria and among the Syrian diaspora in which the protesters encouraged the regime to clarify al-Kaznawi´s whereabouts and release him. Following the protests, al-Kaznawi´s corpse, bearing marks of torture, was handed over to the family.

Had to run away
After the assasination, al-Kaznawi´s sons have tried to establish what might have happened to their father. Murshed al-Kaznawi said in an interview with an Arab newspaperthat they had evidence that Syrian authorities were involved in the killing of their father. In addition to members of the Syrian government, Murshed al-Kaznawi also pointed out the President´s brother as being among those guilty. This accusations led to Murshed al-Kaznawi also being persecuted in Syria, among others with an arrest order being issued. With the help of the UNHCR´ though, who gave him status as a refugee, Murshed al-Kaznawi managed to escape and now lives in Norway.

Masuq Al Kaznawi profile lighting a candle.jpg-No comment
Following his arrival to safety in Norway, Murshed has handed over evidence of the Syrian authorities´ involvement in the assasination of Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi, left, to Amnesty International´s headquarters in London, where this evidence is currently being investigated further. Amnesty International has subsequently sent three letters, to the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice of Syria requesting further information about the country´s own investigations into the killing. Syria has so far refused to comment on the case.

-This is a particular responsibility of Norway
The Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds (RKR) strongly encourages the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to approach Syrian authorities and request that an independent investigation is initiated into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Dr. Masuq al-Kaznawi. RKR considers it a particular Norwegian responsibility to do so, considering the fact that Dr. al-Kaznawi´s son has been granted political asylum in Norway.

To write your own appeal and send it as an email to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, click here .