Hama: A man claiming to be the top legal official in the central Syrian city of Hama has announced that he has resigned in protest at the crimes against humanity committed by security forces. In a video statement, Hama governorate attorney-general Adnan Bakkour said he had evidence of more than 70 executions and hundreds of cases of torture.It is not clear when he was filmed.
Syria’s state news agency, Sana, says Mr Bakkour was kidnapped by “terrorist groups” and forced to lie at gunpoint.
It quoted the Hama Police Command as saying the attorney-general, his driver and a bodyguard had been abducted by gunmen in the village of Karnaz on Monday. There have been no other reports about Mr Bakkour since then.
In his statement, which was posted online on Wednesday, Mr Bakkour said he was resigning because of the “al-Assad regime and his gangs”.
Mr Bakkour gave the reasons for his decision as:
* The killing of 72 prisoners in Hama’s central prison on 31 July 2011, including peaceful protesters and political activists
* The burying of more than 420 victims in mass graves in public parks by security forces personnel and the pro-regime shabiha militia; he said he was told to report that the victims were killed by armed gangs
* The arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters; he said there were approximately 10,000 prisoners in total
* The torture of prisoners at branches of the security services; he said approximately 320 people had died under torture
* The demolition by the army of homes with people still inside in his district of Hama, al-Hadima
Mr Bakkour said he would make documents supporting his allegations available later, but in the meantime would name “criminals” who he said had massacred unarmed protesters.
They included the local heads of the interior ministry, police, military intelligence, air force intelligence, and the General Security Directorate. He also accused several named officers of torture.
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