On December 8, 2025, the Internal Security Forces of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) arrested journalist Firas al-Barjas at his home in Raqqa city, according to his brother as well as multiple press freedom and human rights organizations, as well as media reports.
Al-Barjas, 26, works at Radio Sawt al-Hayat (Voice of Life), a local media outlet operating in Syria’s Jazira region. He was working with Hawar News Agency and Ronahi TV, outlets close to the DAANES.
His brother, Zuhair, told CPJ on January 6, 2026, that Al-Barjas was detained while at his workplace taken to an undisclosed location.
“So far, the authorities have provided no explanation for his arrest and have denied our family access to see him,” Zuhair said. “We hired a lawyer.”
“We do not know the legal grounds for his arrest,” he added. “We have heard that he is being held at Aqtan Prison north of Raqqa city.”
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), Al-Barjas “was assaulted and beaten during the arrest before being taken to the intelligence headquarters on Al-Nour Street in the city of Raqqa.”
SANA, Syria’s official state-run news agency, reported that Barjas was arrested “on charges of cooperating with the Syrian Ministry of Information.”
CPJ contacted Badi’ Hasso, director of the media center of the Internal Security Forces, but received no response.