Samir Masto, a member of the banned Kurdish group known as the Democratic Union Party, was sentenced for "belonging to a secret organization whose aim is to annex part of a Syria to a foreign country."

Damascus views the expression of Kurdish language and culture as a threat to national unity and Kurds, who make up about 10 percent of Syria's population, are frequently arrested for alleged separatism.

The same court, which enjoys extended power under Syrian emergency laws, sentenced taxi driver Ali Karamaneh for "insulting and defaming the president," Bunni said.

Meanwhile, security forces on Saturday arrested writer and human rights activist Abdullah Hallak at his home in northwestern Syria, according to Bunni and the Syrian Organization for Human Rights.

The rights group expressed its "profound concern over the increase in political arrests" and said "the release of all political detainees is a necessary first step to reform in Syria."

Bunni, who heads the Syrian Center for Legal Studies, condemned "the pursuit of repression, threats and efforts to contain all political activities," and called on "everyone to resist threats and the repression campaign."

Syria's emergency laws, in effect since the Baath party took power in 1963, have come under regular fire from rights advocates because the laws limit free expression, permit state security courts and so-called "arbitrary arrests."