Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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505. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will highlight the case of the Douma4, prominent Syrian human rights defenders who were abducted two years ago; and if he will support calls for the United Nations' mandated independent international commission of inquiry to be allowed into Syrian detention facilities. [45463/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the abduction in the Douma suburb of Damascus by unknown gunmen on 9 December 2013 of several distinguished human rights activists associated with the Syrian Violations Documentation Centre, including its founder and human rights lawyer, Razan Zaitouneh. It remains unclear who was responsible for these abductions. We urge the abductors of these activists, as well as those holding prisoners on all sides of the conflict, to release immediately all political detainees.

The leadership, dedication, physical and moral courage of human rights activists in Syria, facing continual threats from both the Assad regime and opposition extremists, is well known to many in the international community. Officials in my Department, including those based in the region, have met on a number of occasions with Syrian human rights defenders and monitor the many challenges and dangers they face.

Ireland has repeatedly expressed its support for the UN Commission of Inquiry and condemns the refusal of the Assad regime to permit Commission members entry to Syria to fulfil their duties.