A Syrian criminal court on Monday convicted a political activist of insulting the regime and contacting ''hostile parties,'' and sentenced him to one and a half years in prison, a human rights group said.

Faiq al-Mir', a member of the outlawed Syrian Democratic People Party was arrested in December 2006 after visiting Lebanon to offer condolences to the family of assassinated Lebanese politician George Hawi, a critic of Syria's role in the neighboring country. (AP)