Court hands down 36-month sentences to Damascus Declaration journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is deeply outraged by the sentences of two and a half years in prison which a Damascus court passed on 29 October 2009 on three Syrian journalists and nine other pro-democracy activists – all members of the Damascus Declaration National Council. The press freedom organisation calls on the international community, […]
Detained cyber-dissident charged, faces up to 15 years in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the charges of “spreading mendacious information aimed at weakening national sentiment,” seeking to “stir up sectarian strife” and “attacking the president” that have been brought against Habib Saleh, a cyber-dissident who was arrested without explanation in a market in his home town of Tartus on 6 May 2008. The […]
U.S. journalists thought missing held for questioning by officials
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: U.S. journalists, thought missing, are held by Syrian officials New York, October 9, 2008 – Two U.S. journalists missing since October 1 are being held in Syria in connection with visa issues, several news organizations reported today. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that […]
Distribution of Saudi-owned newspaper suspended amid tension between Arab regimes
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns Syria’s ban on distribution of the pan-Arab daily “Al-Hayat” since 29 September 2008. The ban on the newspaper, which is Saudi-owned, comes amid a freeze in relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia that began after a bombing in Damascus in September. “The Arab media often depend on good diplomatic […]
Authorities block ANHRI’s website
(ANHRI/IFEX) – ANHRI has denounced the full blockage of its website in Syria by the Public Institution for Telecommunication on 29 September 2008. The Institution had previously blocked a page on the same website dedicated to information on Syrian human rights. It also blocked ANHRI’s blogs website, http://www.katib.org , on 25 September. ANHRI’s Legal Aid […]
RSF delegation, French journalists denied entry at border
(RSF/IFEX) – A Reporters Without Borders delegation led by its secretary-general, Robert Ménard, together with well-known French TV journalist Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and photographer François Daburon were denied entry to Syria at a Lebanese border crossing on 13 September 2008. After meeting Lebanese journalists in Beirut, the Reporters Without Borders representatives and Poivre d’Arvor had […]
Twenty-six IFEX members appeal to French President Sarkozy to raise issue of jailed journalists and rights activists in Syria
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is an appeal by 26 IFEX members to the French president regarding the free expression situation in Syria: M. Nicolas Sarkozy President of the Republic of France Palais de l’Elysée 55, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 75008 Paris, France Your Excellency, We, the undersigned organisations promoting and defending freedom of expression worldwide, […]
Court rejects writer’s request for release on completing three quarters of sentence
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders “strongly condemns” a Damascus criminal court’s decision on 20 August 2008 to reject a request for the release of imprisoned writer and journalist Michel Kilo although he has served three-quarters of a three-year sentence and therefore qualifies for early release under Syrian law. “The court insisted on keeping Kilo in […]
Lawyer released after being held for 12 days for criticising government on his website
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders reiterates its condemnation of the government’s behaviour towards certain opposition websites after lawyer and website editor Abdallah Souleiman Ali was detained for 12 days for “persisting in publishing legal and political articles criticising the role of the government.” It was the second time he has been targeted since March 2008. […]
Website owner-manager arrested for articles criticising government
(ANHRI/IFEX) – ANHRI condemns the arrest of lawyer Abdalla Suliman by the Syrian security apparatus on 30 July 2008. He is the owner and manager of two websites, Al Nazaha (Integrity, http://www.alnazaha.org ), and Akhbar Al Nazaha (Integrity News, http://www.alnazahanews.com ), and was arrested because of his “persistence . . . in publishing legal and […]
Government critic released from prison, but crackdown on dissidents continues
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is an 8 August 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Economist Freed as Crackdown Goes on Government Should Release All Jailed for Peaceful Dissent (New York, August 8, 2008) – Syria’s release of prominent activist Aref Dalila on August 7, 2008, after seven years in detention, is welcome, but the […]
Issue of London daily banned over coverage of President Assad’s trip to France
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns a Syrian government ban on distribution of the 15 July 2008 issue of the London-based daily “Al-Hayat”. According to the news website Elaph ( http://www.elaph.com ), it was prompted by an article by Saudi journalist Daoud Al-Sharayan criticising the position taken by President Bashar el-Assad during his visit to […]
Independent journalist sentenced to prison for defamation
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 10-day prison sentence handed down on 23 June 2008 to independent journalist Mazen Darwish, President of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. He was sentenced under Article 387 of the criminal code for “defamation and insulting state administrative bodies”. The verdict will appear on […]
Writer arrested, held incommunicado; blogger given three-year sentence; rights activists on trial, harassed
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is an abridged Human Rights Watch press release: Syria: Repression of Activists Continues Unabated Engagement With Damascus Should Include Human Rights (Washington, DC, June 12, 2008) – Western countries looking to increase engagement with Syria should know that Syrian authorities continue to arrest, try, and harass political and human rights activists, […]
Journalist and writer Michel Kilo begins third year in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Syrian writer and journalist Michel Kilo, who is about to begin his third year in Adra prison, in Damascus. Arrested on 14 May 2006, Kilo was given a three-year jail term one year later for “weakening national sentiment.” The authorities have until now […]
Annual Report 2008: Syria
Annual Report 2008: Syria