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Syria's Very Special Court
[Boston Globe] Editorial - A report from Human Rights Watch on Syria's use of a kangaroo court to criminalize even the mildest forms of dissent and free speech sheds light on the Syrian regime's disdain for legality - the trademark of a police state. The testimonies about Syria's Supreme State Security Court depict a travesty of justice. Defendants are thrown in jail for insulting Assad or for being found with subversive writing, CDs, or videos. They are held for months without being charged, and frequently tortured. When they finally appear before a security court judge, their defense lawyers have no role to play. President Obama must approach the Assad regime without illusions.