Media suffering a decade into President al-Assad’s rule, says CPJ
CPJ calls on the president to amend the country’s repressive press law and ensure that no journalists are behind bars for doing their jobs.
President Bashar al-Asad’s decade in power marked by repression, says Human Rights Watch report
The 35-page report reviews Syria’s bleak human rights record in five key areas, including freedom of expression.
Ten years after Bashar el-Assad’s ascent to power, government still decides who can be a journalist
All the talk of political and legislative reforms have not produced any results. As in his foreign policy, Assad says one thing and does another.
Two journalists facing military court trial
CPJ called on authorities to drop criminal defamation charges against investigative journalists Bassam Ali and Suhaila Ismail.
Growing crackdown on journalists and government critics
RSF calls for the immediate and unconditional release of journalists Ali Abdallah and Kamal Sheikhou ben Hussein, and the withdrawal of the charges against Souhayla Ismail and Bassem Ali.
Human rights activist sentenced to three years in prison on vague and spurious charges
The charges against Muhannad Al Hassani, which come after years of harassment, were a result of his efforts to call public attention to the unfair legal treatment of other political prisoners.
Human rights organisations express concern over lawyer’s trial and call for his release
Attorney Muhannad al-Hassani was referred to a judge for questioning due to his human rights work, specifically his reports on exceptional trials before the High State Security Court.
Authorities refuse to release journalist on completion of sentence
After completing a 30-month jail sentence, Ali Al-Abdallah is now being held on new charges of “disseminating false information with the aim of harming the state.”
Imprisoned human rights advocate denied access to medical treatment
Haitham Maleh’s son says the Syrian government is “essentially condemning” his father “to a slow death sentence” and calls on the UN to address attacks on human rights defenders in the Arab region.
Repression grows as Europe, US avoid discussing rights, says Human Rights Watch
In her visit to Syria, the EU foreign relations chief should condemn the harassment and detention of activists and journalists, says the organisation.
Journalist released after three months in arbitrary detention
The national criminal investigations department still has not said why it arrested Maan Aqil at his workplace.
Two journalists freed after being held for more than one month without charge
Reporter Ali Taha and cameraman Ali Ahmed were arrested in the Damascus suburb of Sayda Zainab on 2 January 2010.
Reporter and cameraman detained as arbitrary arrests continue
Reporter Ali Taha and cameraman Ali Ahmed were arrested by the Department of Internal Security on 2 January 2010.
Newspaper journalist is latest victim of wave of arbitrary arrests and trials
“President Bashar Al-Assad has built himself the image of an international negotiator but Syrians who defend free expression are being sidelined and jailed one by one,” says RSF.
End persecution of Kurds, Human Rights Watch report urges
The 63-page report, “Group Denial: Repression of Kurdish Political and Cultural Rights in Syria,” notes that arrests of activists are intensifying.
Rights activist and lawyer permanently disbarred
The Damascus Bar Association should reverse the decision to permanently disbar lawyer and rights activist Muhanad al-Hasani, says Human Rights Watch.