Voices call for freedom of North Press journalist in Damascus

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) –On Saturday, the Free Media Union in North and East Syria and human rights organizations demanded the security forces of the Syrian government release writer and journalist Bassam Safar.

On Thursday, security forces in the Syrian capital, Damascus, arrested journalist Bassam Safar, who works as an editor in the cultural section of North Press Agency.

The Free Media Union in North and East Syria called on the relevant institutions in the areas under the Syrian government control to put pressure on the security forces to “immediately” release the journalist.

The human rights organization Berchav along with media institutions and freedom advocates called for the release of the journalist Safar.

On Friday, North Press Agency issued a statement condemning the arrest of Bassam Safar, and considered it a flagrant violation of press freedoms in Syria.

The statement pointed out that the arrest came at a time when Syria has been at the top of human rights reports on violations of the rights of journalists.

North Press also calls on all press institutions and human rights organizations to demand the release of Safar and the stop of all violations against media workers.

The Communist Labor Party, to which Safar belongs, demanded in a statement yesterday, Friday, his release “immediately”, as well as the release of “all political detainees” in the prisons of the Syrian government.

The statement said: “This new arrest comes within the practices of the security forces against the freedom of opinion, and against the voices of democratic opponents.”