Top Syrians sign petition for democracy

NICOSIA — President Bashar Assad faces a campaign for democracy in Syria.

Nearly 1,000 prominent Syrians have signed a petition that calls on Assad to release political prisoners, hold democratic elections and end nearly 40 years of emergency rule. The petition was organized by a Syrian parliamentarian, Riad Seif.

"Political reform is necessary to emerge from stagnation and bring the administration out of its paralysis," the petition said.

The petition warns the regime to embark on the "required moves towards reform which can no longer be put off."

These include the following:

• The end of emergency rule, which began in 1963;
• The launching of democratic freedoms, including "freedom of opinion, expression and publication;"
• The passage of bills regarding elections and the formation of parties and labor unions;
• The abolition of special courts and the release of political prisoners.

The petition said the signators will form committees to "revive civil society in the hope of taking a decisive step towards a democratic society."

It was not clear whether the Assad regime approved the petition. Seif, 55, is regarded as a maverick who has criticized government economic policy. The parliamentarian, who describes himself as an Assad supporter, said he did not encounter difficulties from the government.

This is the second petition to Assad since he succeeded his late father in June. The first petition was distributed in September.

Among the signators are philosopher Sadeq Jalal al-Azm, economist Aref Dalila, writer Michel Kilo, film-maker Nabil Maleh and engineering professor Shebli Shami.

Addressing 150 people near Damascus, Shami told a gathering organized by parliamentarian Seif that the regime must change. "If we do not seek out corruption and injustice, we will be unable to forge a universal spirit which will produce a change for the better," Shami said.