Mazen Darwish, founder of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, was released after an arbitrary arrest that lasted nearly three and a half years in an Assad prison.
Spokesman for the Syrian Coalition Salem al-Meslet said: Though he was emancipated ahead of his August 21st final verdict on charges of “promoting terrorist acts,” on behalf of all Syrians, I congratulate Darwish, the journalist and defender of freedom of expression on his release and on restoring his freedom.
“While the Assad regime’s continual kidnapping, arrest and torture of activists and journalists has not, and will never weaken their resolve, this only serves to strengthen their defiance, reliance, and honor,” Meslet added.
“And while we congratulate Darwish on winning the UNESCO’s 2015 annual press freedom prize and Reporters Without Borders’ 2013 award, we demand the immediate release of all detainees and abductees whose continued suffering will always be in the thoughts and conscience of every devoted Syrian.”
The Assad regime has detained 10,000s of Syrians since the outbreak of the revolution in March 2011, including many human rights activist and academics, including Professor Faten Rajab and Dr. Rania Abbasi along with her husband Abdul Rahman Yasin and their six children. Their fate is still unknown.
Spokesman for the Syrian Coalition Salem al-Meslet calls on the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Assad regime to implement the Un resolution 2139 urging the release of all detainees in Syria. He also calls on as the International Red Cross’s mission to organize visits to detention centers to check on the safety of detainees and report on their status. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
