A/HRC/22/53/Add.4 provided to the contrary, the Special Rapporteur concludes that the rights of the aforementioned individuals who have been subjected to torture while in detention have been violated under the UN Convention against Torture. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to undertake a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation of the alleged acts of torture, leading to prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators, and to provide redress to the victims. (b) JUA 27/03/2012 Case No. SYR 4/2012 State reply: None to date Alleged arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention and possible enforced disappearances. 131. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of Syria has not responded to this communication dated 27 March 2012, thereby failing to cooperate with the mandate established by the Human Rights Council. The communication referred to the alleged arrest, incommunicado detention, and possible enforced disappearance of Mr. Rudy Uthman, a journalist and human rights defender, and Mr. Saleh Shameya, a well-known lawyer, as a result of the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and assembly. In this context, the Special Rapporteur reiterates paragraph 7(c) of Human Rights Council Resolution 8/8 of 18 June 2008, which reminds all States that “[p]rolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places may facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and the dignity of the person.”Accordingly, based on the information received and in the absence of the contrary, the Special Rapporteur determines that the rights of the identified persons under the UN Convention against Torture, whose whereabouts remain unknown, have been violated. The Special Rapporteur urgently calls on the Government to guarantee the physical and mental integrity of Mr. Rudy Uthman and Mr. Saleh Shameya. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to undertake a prompt and independent investigation on the allegations, leading to the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators. Moreover, the Government must ensure that all individuals whose rights have been violated obtain redress, including fair and adequate compensation, and as full rehabilitation as possible. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government of Syria to abolish the practice of incommunicado and unacknowledged detention. (c) JUA 08/05/2012 Case No. SYR 5/2012 State reply: None to date Allegations of prolonger incommunicado detention, ill-treatment and upcoming military court trials of human rights defenders. 132. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of Syria has not responded to this communication, thereby failing to cooperate with the mandate issued by the Human Rights Council. The communication referred to the allegations of prolonged incommunicado detention and torture and ill-treatment of the members of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) as a result of their legitimate activities as human rights defenders. These allegations were the subject of a previous communication dated 20 February 2012, however, we regret that to date no reply has been transmitted. The Special Rapporteur expresses grave concern for the physical and psychological integrity of the detainees, particularly that of Mr. Mazen Darwich and the other individuals who are being held incommunicado and who have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment. In this context, the Special Rapporteur reiterates paragraph 7(c) of Human Rights Council Resolution 8/8 of 18 June 2008, which reminds all States that “[p]rolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places may facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and the dignity of the person.” Furthermore, he would like to remind the Government of Rule 22(2) of the 73

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