The present document of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) concerns a letter to the president of Syria about the case of Mr. Haythem al-Maleh, a lawyer and Director of the Syrian Human Rights Association. The ICJ is concerned that he is prevented from leaving the country. The ICJ refers to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and states that the Principles establish that Governments have the duty to ensure that lawyers can fulfil their functions without fear of harassment or intimidation.