Amnesty urges Syria to suspend Assad-era cybercrime law
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Amnesty International on Friday called on the Syrian government to suspend the implementation of a 2022 cybercrime law and substantially amend it, saying the legislation continues to be used to restrict freedom of expression despite a government review.
The rights group said it documented five cases of journalists and activists detained between January and June 2026 over online expression under Law No. 20 of 2022, which was enacted under former President Bashar al-Assad. The individuals were detained for periods ranging from 24 hours to seven days.
Amnesty added that the cases involved broadly worded charges including “undermining the prestige of the state” and electronic defamation. Three people faced state-led prosecutions, while private complaints were filed against two others and later withdrawn following public pressure.
The organization pointed out that it reviewed the online content involved in the five cases and found no evidence of incitement to violence or hatred, arguing that the speech was protected under the right to freedom of expression.
In June, Syria’s Ministry of Justice announced the formation of legal and technical committees to review the cybercrime law. A June 26 circular also introduced safeguards, including requiring judicial authorization for specialized cybercrime investigations and limiting pretrial detention and search measures to exceptional circumstances.
Amnesty welcomed the procedural changes but said they do not address provisions that criminalize protected speech or allow broad interference with privacy.
The group also cited the June 17 arrest of artist and filmmaker Hassan Akkad in Damascus following a complaint alleging defamation and insult. He was released five days later after the complaint was withdrawn.
Amnesty urged the Syrian government to drop charges arising solely from peaceful expression and prioritize reform of the cybercrime law and other inherited legislation to comply with international human rights standards.