Attempt to Detain a Journalist in Damascus Sparks Controversy Over Press Freedom

Damascus – The Journalist and media professional Ilaf Yassin, originally from Raqqa Governorate, was subjected to an attempted detention by the General Police Directorate while she was in the lobby of a hotel in the capital, Damascus, without an official judicial warrant.

This move came following Yassin’s criticisms of figures close to the authorities on social media. In a live broadcast on her Facebook page, Yassin explained that security personnel arrived at the hotel following a complaint filed with the Cyber Crimes Department, after her meeting with media personality Mousa Al-Omar. She also described the incident as a direct targeting of press freedom and journalists.

The incident sparked widespread reactions within media circles, with numerous journalists and activists expressing their rejection of these measures, warning about their danger to freedom of expression and the right of journalists to carry out their work without restrictions or pressures.