Syrian activists on Tuesday took to Avaaz to launch an online petition demanding that the social media giant Facebook stop deleting posts containing photos and videos of the late Abdel Basset Saruot and to stop closing down accounts of users posting content about him. They stressed that these measures contravened the freedom of expression and spread of information.
Activists also launched a campaign on Facebook that saw them publishing videos and photos that paid tribute to Sarout, an icon of the Syrian Revolution, denoting that they will not bow to Facebook’s decision.
Facebook has removed hundreds of videos and photos of Sarout since he passed away on Saturday, with some accounts being permanently closed down.
Activists stressed that Sarout was “at the forefront of those defending the freedom and dignity of Syria and its people,” pointing out that “Syrians from various affiliations and orientations considered Sarout as a hero of the revolution.”
The activists called for the restoration of all deleted posts about Sarout and the accounts that published contain about him. They also demanded that Facebook stop such measures which “bring to mind the dictatorship that the Syrian people rose up against to regain freedom and dignity. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
