Editor’s note: Journalist Amer Matar was released on January 3, 2012, after spending about four months in detention.
Security forces in Damascus arrested Matar, a contributor to the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, on September 4, 2011, according to the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression.
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression reported that Military Intelligence referred Matar after 60 days in detention to the military judiciary, which later referred the case to the civilian judiciary.
Matar was charged with “spreading false news that would weaken the morale of the nation,” under Article 286 of the Syrian Penal Code. During questioning before the Fourth Investigative Judge on December 8, 2011, Matar denied the charge and said that he had been subjected to coercion and duress, and that statements attributed to him before the security branch were not true.
Matar had covered protests in Damascus and was himself politically active, calling for peaceful anti-regime demonstrations on his Facebook page. He had previously been detained on March 30, 2011, in connection with his coverage of protests and participation in demonstrations, and was released on April 14, 2011, after being severely tortured, according to the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression.