Syrian-British activist arrested over online campaign

Syrian authorities have detained an online activist over a campaign calling on influential figures to make good on pledges to donate money to a public development fund after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, two friends told AFP on Friday.

The arrest of Syrian-British national Hassan Akkad, who was detained for a time at the outset of the country's civil war in 2011 and has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram has sparked criticism, recalling for some the practices of the former government.

Two close friends of Akkad told AFP that he was arrested at a cafe while they were watching a football match together.

"We tried to stop them from taking him before they identified themselves. Later they said they were from the Cybercrime Department, without presenting any arrest warrant," one of them said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

The "Give Us the Money You Owe" campaign, which Akkad launched two months ago, issued a statement a day after his arrest saying "the allegations appear to be connected to Hassan's public statements and online activity".

In recent videos, Akkad had sarcastically called on businessmen, ministers and influential figures close to the new authorities to pay donations they had pledged with the aim of kickstarting reconstruction at fundraising events after current President Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power.

Among them was businessman Mohammad Hamsho, whose name was closely associated with the former government and who was subjected to US and European sanctions.

He later became close to the current authorities after reaching a financial settlement with them this year.

'Disgrace to the revolution'

Earlier this month, Akkad had complied with a summons from the government's Cybercrime Administration following complaints filed against him by a media figure close to the authorities and other complainants who were not disclosed, according to the campaign.

Akkad, who arrived in Britain as a refugee in 2015 before obtaining citizenship, said he would stop posting content after the summons, noting he had received death threats through social media.

Mohammad Al Abdallah, executive director of the Syrian Center for Justice and Accountability, said on Facebook that Akkad's detention "is a disgrace to all of us... a disgrace to the revolution".

"The height of disgrace, of course, is arresting Hassan Akkad under the Cybercrime Law issued by Bashar al-Assad in 2012 and amended in 2022," he added.

Celine Kasem, a friend of Akkad, wrote on X that“accountability should be directed toward those accused of war crimes & corruption not toward people who are trying to hold them accountable".

The new Islamist authorities have sought to present a model of governance characterised by openness and flexibility, but a series of measures they have taken have raised concerns among activists and rights advocates about restrictions on personal freedoms.