Berlin - Germany condemned Syria on Wednesday for extending the prison sentence of an opposition activist, Kamal Labwani. The German Foreign Ministry said he had only spoken out for democracy and freedom of opinion.
In a statement in Berlin, the ministry said a military court in Damascus had sentenced Labwani, leader of the Liberal Democratic Union, on Wednesday to a further three years in prison after convicting him of spreading propaganda and false information.
Added to a 12-year sentence imposed last May, Labwani was now serving 15 years in prison. Berlin condemned that first sentence, when it was holding the European Union presidency last year.
"This new conviction is in breach of the international pact of civil and political rights which Syria signed in 1969," the ministry said. "Non-violently, Dr Labwani is advocating improvements to democracy and freedom of opinion in Syria."
Berlin said there were also doubts he had received a fair trial and called for the court decision to be changed.
