Intellectuals, writers and lawyers called on the Syrian leadership to introduce political reforms and lift the state of emergency which has been imposed on the country since 40 years.
According to media reports, a petition signed by 700 intellectuals, writers, and lawyers called for the abrogation of what is called the state of emergency which was announced on March 8, 1963 in Syria and led, according to the petition to a "situation which besieges the society and freezes its movement and put thousands of citizens in jails for reasons pertaining to their views or political stances."
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
