A Syrian journalist with gunshot wounds in the head died on 2 January after three days in a Damascus hospital. Shukri Ahmed Ratib Abu Burghul was reportedly shot in the face deliberately on 30 December after hosting his weekly programme on Radio Damascus. Burghul was also deputy director of the censorship department of Al-Thawra, a state-owned newspaper.
Detained Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was released on bail yesterday. Razan was arrested at the at the Syrian border with Jordan on December 5, and was released by authorities after spending 15 days in prison. The blogger’s sister, Nadine, tweeted the details of her freedom: “It’s raining Razans… hallelujah :)))))))) <3 It’s official, sis is out! hopefully the same goes to all arrested sisters and brothers.”
Ghazzawi was charged with “establishing an organisation that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state” and “weakening the national sentiment, and trying to ignite sectarian strife.”
US born Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi has been charged by authorities following her arrest eight days ago. Razan was arrested by Syrian officials at the country’s border with Jordan border whilst attempting to attend a conference for advocates of free press in the Arab world in Amman, Jordan. The blogger has been charged with “establishing an organisation that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state,” “weakening the national sentiment,” and trying to ignite sectarian strife” all of which can be punished with up to 15 years in prison.
It has been reported that a US-born Syrian blogger was arrested on Sunday. In a statement, the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression said that Razan Ghazzawi, 30, was arrested by Syrian officials at the Syrian and Jordan border while attempting to leave Syria to attend a conference for advocates of free press in the Arab world in Amman, Jordan.
Ghazzawi is a blogger and human rights advocate, and has been actively documenting human rights violations and arrests in Syria since the start of the uprising against Bashar Al-Assad in March. She is one of the few Syrian bloggers to do so without an alias. Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the arrest. Ghazzawi’s last post before her arrest celebrated the release of the arrested blogger and activist Hussein Ghrer, who was held for 37 days. She wrote:
Hussein is going to be home tonight, where he will be holding his wife tight, and never let go of his two precious sons again. It’s all going to be alright, and it will all be over very soon.
Activists and supporters have turned to Twitter to campaign for her release, using the hashtag #FreeRazan to comment on her arrest.