Anwar al-Bunni is a prominent Syrian human rights lawyer who has always done his best to defend clients like Riad al-Turk, and Riad Seif, who was the owner of The Lamplighter – which was an independent newspaper that was shut down by the Syrian government, Kurdish protesters, as well as many others.
Anwar Al Bunni even defended activist Aref Dalila who was involved in Damascus Spring at his 2002 trial. Anwar even presented a blood-stained handkerchief as a shred of evidence that Aref Dalila has been beaten, and more or less tortured in the prison, however, Anwar was ordered from the court by the judge as well as prohibited or banned from practicing law before the Supreme State Security Court.
What comprised Anwar Al Bunni’s earlier life?
Al-Bunni was born in the year 1959 in Hama to a Christian family who was active in unorthodox leftist politics. According to a consultation with American journalist Robin Wright, Anwar became inquisitive in defending dissidents after being beaten, speared, and having his beard put on fire by Syrian soldiers which occurred during a military sweep of Hama in the year 1981.
Robin Wright has described Anwar as someone who has spent most of his life safeguarding as well ad defending Syria’s political dissidents, frequently pro bono which means taking cases of clients without any fees, and as a result had to sell his automobile, even his office to pay his tabs.
Before Anwar was the head of the short-lived European Union-funded human rights training center in Syria which was also called the Center for Legal Research and Studies which was launched in the year 2004, however, it was shut down by the Syrian government after which he was even arrested in the year 2006.
When and why was Anwar Al Bunni silenced when he was bringing the truth?
Around May 2006, Anwar was detained by the security forces prior to signing the Beirut-Damascus Declaration which was a statement signed by 274 to 500 Lebanese – Syrian activists and intellectuals which was an effort to call for democratic reform. In 2007, Anwar has sentenced to 5 years imprisonment under the accusation of spreading false or exaggerated news that could weaken national morale and affiliating with unlicensed political bodies which were of international nature that were discrediting state institutions.
Along with this, Anwar was fined to pay an equal to US$2,000 for operating the Center for Legal Research and Studies without the permission of the government. The Syrian government was clearly trying to warn about the severe consequences that people would face if they went against the government.
Amnesty International named Anwar Al Bunni a prisoner of conscience after which even U.S President George W. Bush designated Anwar in a speech as a political prisoner who was jailed unfairly by Syria. Even though he was released from prison in the year 2008, Anwar continued to defend dissidents as well as detainees.
What has Anwar Al Bunni accomplished in this journey of being brave and standing up in front of violations and injustice?
In the year 2008, Anwar Al-Bunni obtained the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. In the year 2009, Anwar Al-Bunni was awarded the Human Rights Award by the German Association of Judges, and in the year 2018, Anwar accepted the German-French Prize for Human Rights.
Recently, in 2022, Anwar Al-Bunni was listed on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2022, which is an annual list published every year. We need more valiant people like Anwar Al-Bunni who are not afraid of doing right by the people and fighting for justice which is what we need in this time as well as in the future.