Man sentenced in absentia for social media posts in Syria’s Suwayda
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, the Cybercrime Court in Syria’s Suwayda issued a two-year prison sentence in absentia against a social activist who publishes satirical and critical posts on living conditions in Syria on his personal accounts on social media.
In 2012, Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decision to create cybercrime courts, which prosecute anyone attacking the government through social media and issue judicial rulings against them.
Hassan Selim (a pseudonym), a relative of the young man, said that Hassan Sharoof was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison and a fine.
Sharoof was informed by telephone two months ago that he must attend court in the city of Suwayda. He did not bother to go to court, only to be surprised Sunday evening by the issuance of a judicial decision in absentia and a fine that must be paid, he added.
Selim stated that Sharoof posts videos on social media in which he criticizes the government in a sarcastic way.