Rights Monitor Syria expresses its grave concern regarding the arrest of Syrian activist and content creator Hassan Akkad by personnel from the Internal Security Service on the evening of June 18, 2026, from a restaurant in the al-Malki neighborhood of Damascus. This arrest comes against the backdrop of his media activism and his public campaign, known as “Bring Forth the Money You Owe,” which aimed to demand that public figures, businessmen, and former donors or contractors fulfill their declared financial commitments toward projects supporting and reconstructing Syrian cities.
According to circulated information, Akkad’s arrest followed a lawsuit filed against him on charges of “defamation” pursuant to the provisions of the Cybercrime Law. The case has generated widespread engagement across social media platforms amidst a debate over the background of the lawsuit and the party behind it.
Available data indicates that Syrian media personality Mousa al-Omar announced in a video recording that he had filed the complaint that led to Akkad’s summons and judicial prosecution, justifying his action on the grounds that he had suffered moral damages and defamation as a result of certain posts published by Akkad. Conversely, activists and observers circulated opinions linking the judicial prosecution to the criticisms leveled by Akkad in recent months against several public figures and businessmen, including Syrian businessman Mohamed Hamsho and companies affiliated with him.
In May 2026, Akkad launched the campaign “Bring Forth the Money You Owe,” a campaign that relied on reviewing public data and statements concerning donations and financial pledges announced during support and reconstruction campaigns in Syria, with the aim of demanding the implementation of those pledges. The campaign gained widespread traction on social media platforms and became a matter of public debate within Syrian circles.
On June 5, 2026, Hassan Akkad announced, via a statement published on his Instagram account, that he had been subjected to an online defamation campaign and death threats. He also revealed that he had been summoned by security authorities for review and stated that he received a request to temporarily cease posting on his social media accounts pending a meeting with the Syrian Ministry of Information and a review by the Cybercrime Combating Branch.
Rights Monitor Syria monitors with concern reports indicating that the prosecution and arrest procedures were carried out against the backdrop of expressions, opinions, and posts related to public affairs and the accountability of public figures regarding declared financial pledges. This raises serious concerns regarding the extent of respect for the right to freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed under international human rights standards, including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
While official information regarding the full legal basis of the case and the conditions of detention remains limited, Rights Monitor Syria emphasizes the importance of guaranteeing all rights of the detainee, including his right to be informed of the reasons for his arrest, his right to access legal counsel, ensuring he is not subjected to any form of coercion or ill-treatment, and enabling him to receive a fair trial that complies with due process standards.
Rights Monitor Syria calls upon the Syrian authorities to:
Immediately disclose the full legal basis for Hassan Akkad’s arrest and the conditions of his detention.
Guarantee respect for all his legal and procedural rights during the period of detention and investigation.
Refrain from using legislation related to cybercrimes to restrict freedom of expression or to penalize peaceful criticism pertaining to public affairs.
Investigate the threats that Akkad announced he was subjected to, including death threats and online incitement and defamation campaigns.
Protect the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful civic activism, and ensure that activists, journalists, and content creators are not prosecuted due to their opinions or peaceful activism.
Rights Monitor Syria affirms that it will continue to follow the case and monitor any developments concerning the status of activist Hassan Akkad and the legal measures taken against him, in light of the ongoing public debate regarding the boundaries of freedom of expression and the enforcement of laws relevant to electronic publishing in Syria.
