Arrests and death threats silence Syrian activists

27 September 2011 A Syrian activist tells of the recent arrest of his father and brother, after the brother filmed pro-reform protests in a Damascus suburb. When Syrian security forces came looking for Muhammad Al Hamwi on 23 September, they made a threat calculated to strike fear into any Syrian parent’s heart.The man in charge told Muhammad’s parents: “I will crush the throat of your son with my foot. I will return him to you like Ghayath Mattar.”The Al Hamwis knew only too well what he meant. Ghayath, a friend of Muhammad’s, was arrested on 6 September after helping to lead peaceful…

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