Rights group: Syrian authorities detain political activist

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Syrian human rights group says authorities have detained a political activist. The National Organization for Human Rights said in a statement Monday that the arrest of Mahmoud al-Najar took place in the northern city of Aleppo. The group says documents were confiscated in the raid, and al-Najar was taken to a detention center in the city. NOHR'S did not give a reason for al-Najar's arrest but says he is a member of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration. The banned "Damascus Declaration" is a coalition of pro-democracy and opposition activists and groups. The group says 12 activists of the Damascus Declaration have been in detention for six months. NOHR has called Syrian authorities to release al-Najar immediately.