At the beginning of 2001, there were three Jehovah’s Witnesses and one sympathizer imprisoned in Syria because of their religious beliefs. In the first week of May 2001, one of the three Jehovah’s Witnesses and the sympathizer were released after signing a statement that they would no longer associate with Jehovah’s Witnesses. On June 17, 2001, a military court sentenced the other two Jehovah’s Witnesses who had refused to sign the statement to one year in prison. They were immediately released since they had already been in prison since October 2000. One of the recently released Witnesses was transferred to the Intelligence section that had arrested him and was made to sign a statement that assures that he will never be involved in any religious activity or organization that causes harm or acts against the government of Syria.