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Syria releases activist after four days in detention
British Syrian activist Hassan Akkad was freed from a Damascus prison on Sunday following the withdrawal of a complaint filed by journalist Mousa al-Omar. The detention lasted four days and stemmed from online criticism tied to a donations campaign for Syria's reconstruction.
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British Syrian activist Hassan Akkad was released from a Damascus prison on Sunday after four days in detention. Akkad was taken into custody from a cafe in the al-Maliki neighbourhood of Damascus on Wednesday evening. Officials said the arrest followed a legal complaint filed by journalist Mousa al-Omar over Akkad's social media comments.
" campaign, which tracks financial pledges made by public figures for Syria's reconstruction. The complaint against him alleged that he had criticised al-Omar for failing to deliver on donation commitments. Public Prosecutor Judge Hossam Khattab stated last week that Akkad had been detained for failing to appear before the Cybercrime Control Division.
Khattab added that other plaintiffs had filed separate cases against Akkad for slander and defamation.
Release and statements Al-Omar told Al Jazeera that he instructed his lawyer to withdraw the complaint and confirmed that all pledged funds had been paid. In a post on X, al-Omar wrote that his legal representative had dropped the lawsuit and pardoned Akkad.
Akkad previously documented anti-government protests in Syria in 2011 and was imprisoned twice under the former government. He later reached the United Kingdom in 2015 after an extended journey across Europe.
