Prominent activist missing
The Syrian government should reveal the fate of Haytham al-Maleh, who disappeared on 14 October 2009, and should release him immediately if it is detaining him, says Human Rights Watch.
Senior officials systematically suppress dissenting voices
Repression has been stepped up considerably since the start of the summer, reports RSF.
Blogger sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for “spreading false news”
After spending more than two years behind bars, blogger Kareem Arbaji has been sentenced by the State Security Court to three years’ imprisonment for “spreading false news”.
Newspaper editor fired over article defending regional identity
Editor Ahmad Takrouni believes he was fired for publishing a column written by Hassan Al-Safidi.
Human rights lawyer arrested, charged
Lawyer and rights activist Muhanad al-Hasani was arrested and charged with “weakening national sentiment” and “spreading false or exaggerated information.”
Press freedom situation continues to be very bad, says RSF
Five cyber-dissidents are still being detained and several magazines were recently banned.
Culture Ministry confiscates book following criticisms
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said today that it is strongly concerned with the decision of the Syrian Ministry of Culture to confiscate a book entitled “Syria in the Russian flights during the nineteenth century”.
Journalist Michel Kilo free at last
Reporters Without Borders welcomes writer and journalist Michel Kilo’s release at 11 p.m. (local time) on 19 May 2009 from the Damascus headquarters of the intelligence services, where he had been held and interrogated for the previous five days.
UN rules dissident’s detention illegal
Free Kamal Labwani, Rights Activist Serving 12-Year Sentence After Unfair Trial (HRW/IFEX) – London, April 29, 2009 – Syrian authorities should immediately free Dr. Kamal Labwani, a prominent political and human rights activist, following a UN finding that his detention is arbitrary and thus unlawful, a group of leading human rights organizations said today. The […]
Newspaper under pressure because of political tension
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the distribution ban which the Syrian authorities have imposed on the privately-owned Lebanese daily “Al-Diyar” since 22 April 2009 and the threats that have been made against its editor, Charles Ayoub, a Lebanese politician with a pro-Syrian stance. The ban follows the publication in the newspaper of a series […]
Journalist Faruq Haji Mustafa held incommunicado, another on trial
(CPJ/IFEX) – New York, April 22, 2009 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Syrian authorities to disclose the whereabouts of a journalist who has been held incommunicado since early April after he was ordered to visit the political security office in Aleppo. Faruq Haji Mustafa, a Syrian Kurdish journalist and writer, was […]
Human Rights Watch says Supreme State Security Court should be abolished, report documents prosecution of defendants on vague charges that criminalise freedom of expression
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 24 February 2009 Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Dissolve the State Security Court EU and US Should Engage Damascus to Abolish Repressive Court (New York, February 24, 2009) – Syrian authorities should abolish the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC), a special court that exists […]
World Report 2009: Syria
World Report 2009: Syria
Saudi blogger, director of Syrian media center prevented from traveling to free press forum
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Beirut, Lebanon, 11 December 2008 World’s Press Condemns Travel Restrictions on Arab Journalists Authorities in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Syria have prevented four Arab journalists and human rights activists from attending the Arab Free Press Forum, an annual gathering in Beirut, Lebanon, that examines how independent […]
Human Rights Watch urges UK foreign secretary to press Syrian government to release activists detained for exercising freedom of expression and association
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 16 November 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: UK: Miliband Should Press Syria on Rights On Visit, Link Better Relations to Respect for Freedoms (London, November 16, 2008) – The UK foreign secretary, David Miliband, should use his visit to Syria to raise human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch […]
Journalist Michel Kilo granted early release from prison, but has yet to be freed
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 2 November 2008 decision, a Damascus appeal court judge overturned a criminal court’s refusal in August to release imprisoned writer and journalist Michel Kilo on completion of three-quarters of a three-year sentence. However, Kilo has not been freed and the attorney general of the Damascus prosecutor’s office appealed on 4 November […]