The media spokesman of SHRC has condemned the arrest and detention of the Sudanese journalist, Hashem Othman, Editor of the “International Spaces” magazine by the Syrian Authorities on 20/6/2008. The spokesman described this act as a “type of human piracy”, with no justification except to terrorise those who work in the media, whether Syrian or non-Syrian- “those who own nothing but the word with which they express their views.” He added that, “this act is against the freedom from arbitrary arrest and illegal aggression on his freedom without justification, particularly that Mr. Othman is not a Syrian citizen.” 

The spokesman concluded by calling upon the Syrian Authorities to immediately release the Sudanese journalist, as well as to put an end to the despotic arrests and blackmail practised by the authorities against the journalists, Syrians and Arabs.
Syrian Human Rights Committee
23/6/2008

Background:
The Syrian Authorities arrested Mr. Hashem Othman, editor of the “International Spaces” Magazine on 20/6/2008 for no known reason. Mr. Hashem Othman has been publishing his magazine in Syria for more than three years.