IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 363
Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross 
violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by 
the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2004
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ACKERMAN, 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. PENCE, Mr. 
MCCOTTER, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. BERMAN, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Vir-
ginia, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Ms. BERKLEY, and Mr. LANTOS) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the con-
tinuing gross violations of human rights and civil lib-
erties of the Syrian people by the Government of the 
Syrian Arab Republic.
Whereas the Syrian Arab Republic is governed by an authori-
tarian regime which, according to the 2003 Department 
of State Report on Human Rights Practices, continues to 
commit serious human rights abuses, including ‘‘the use 
of torture’’ and ‘‘arbitrary arrest and detention’’; 
Whereas hundreds of political prisoners in Syria have never 
been tried for any offense, in violation of Article 9 of the
•HCON 363 IH 
Whereas Amnesty International has reported that the secu-
rity forces of Syria are targeting emerging human rights 
organizations in Syria in an apparent attempt to intimi-
date those organizations into ceasing their work in Syria; 
Whereas attorneys in Syria working with these Syrian human 
rights organizations have reportedly been harassed and 
persecuted by the government-controlled bar association, 
which works closely with the ruling Ba’ath Party and the 
government security forces; 
Whereas the criminal law of Syria allows for the acquittal of 
an accused rapist if the suspect marries the victim; 
Whereas the criminal law of Syria provides for reduced sen-
tences in cases of ‘‘honor’’ killings; 
Whereas the family law of Syria as applied to Muslim women 
is governed by Sharia (Islamic) law and is discriminatory 
in marriage, divorce, and inheritance matters; 
Whereas Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights states: ‘‘All are equal before the law and are enti-
tled without any discrimination to equal protection of the 
law.’’; 
Whereas the infringement by Syria on human rights and civil 
liberties extends into the Lebanese Republic, which it 
continues to occupy in violation of United Nations Secu-
rity Council resolutions; 
Whereas Human Rights Watch, in its 2003 World Report, 
stated that: ‘‘Political activists in Lebanon continued to 
demand the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from the 
country and organized demonstrations throughout the 
year, many of which the internal security forces dispersed 
forcibly’’;
•HCON 363 IH 
Whereas nongovernmental organizations in Lebanon continue 
their efforts to discover the fate of the nearly 200 ‘‘dis-
appeared’’ Lebanese citizens believed to have been the 
victims of arbitrary detention or ‘‘disappearance’’ by the 
Syrian authorities; and 
Whereas Freedom House, in its Special Report to the 59th 
Session of the United Nations Commission on Human 
Rights in 2003, classified Syria as ‘‘One of the World’s 
Most Repressive Regimes’’ for its severe repression of po-
litical and civil liberties and its egregious violations of 
human dignity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
(1) condemns the numerous violations of funda-
mental human rights by the Government of the Syr-
ian Arab Republic; 
(2) calls on the international community to 
adopt a resolution at the upcoming 60th Session of 
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
which details the dismal human rights record of 
Syria and establishes a Special Rapporteur to fur-
ther investigate these abuses; 
(3) expresses its support for the people of Syria 
in their daily struggle for freedom, respect for 
human rights and civil liberties, democratic self-gov-
ernance, and the establishment of the rule of law; 
(4) encourages the President and the Secretary 
of State, acting through the Middle East Partner-
•HCON 363 IH 
ship Initiative (managed by the Department of 
State) and other avenues, to reach out to dissidents, 
human rights activists, and the pro-democracy oppo-
sition in Syria, and to assist them in their efforts; 
and 
(5) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and 
other policies to seek a democratic government in 
Syria that will—
(A) restore freedom to the people of Syria; 
(B) cease the illegal occupation by Syria of 
the Lebanese Republic; 
(C) abandon support for terrorism by 
Syria; and 
(D) live in peace and security with the 
international community.
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