Syria’s al-Assad approves law tightening freedom of speech
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad signed into law a bill that enshrines a six-month prison sentence for citizens residing in the country who spread disinformation undermining the state’s reputation.
Under the previous law, only Syrians living abroad could be hit with jail sentences, likely in absentia, for spreading fake news deemed damaging to the state.
But under the new law, Syrians at home will likewise face prison time.
“Every Syrian who knowingly publishes false or exaggerated news that undermines the prestige… of the state shall be punished by imprisonment for at least six months,” the presidency said in a statement.
The same sentence was laid out for any Syrian who “publicizes news that could improve the reputation of an enemy state”, the presidency added.
The new law also introduced a prison sentence of at least one year for “every Syrian who, in writing or in speech, called for the cession of Syrian territory”, according to the statement.
Syrians have feared prosecution for criticizing the state for decades, even though the constitution did not lay out specific legislation banning such comments.
“People across the country… lived in fear of being arrested for expressing their opinion, belonging to a dissenting political party, reporting for the media, or defending human rights,” the United Nations Human Rights Council said this month.