Syria frees activist Hassan Akkad after four days in Damascus detention

British Syrian activist Hassan Akkad has been released from a prison in Damascus after four days in detention linked to complaints over his online criticism and public comments. His release came after journalist and presenter Mousa al-Omar withdrew a complaint that had been filed in relation to Akkad's social media activity. The case has drawn attention because it involved a prominent activist, allegations of defamation, and the use of cybercrime procedures in a politically sensitive setting.

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Akkad was taken into custody from a cafe in the al-Maliki neighbourhood of Damascus on Wednesday at about 9:45pm local time, according to a statement from his organisation. Public Prosecutor Judge Hossam Khattab later confirmed that Akkad had been detained on warrants issued after he failed to present himself to the Cybercrime Control Division in connection with al-Omar's complaint. Khattab also said that other plaintiffs had filed cases against Akkad for slander and defamation.

The release was confirmed on Sunday after al-Omar said he had instructed his lawyer to withdraw the complaint. The dispute centres on Akkad's criticism of al-Omar over alleged failures to deliver financial pledges made during a donation drive for Syria's reconstruction. Akkad is the founder of the "Give Us the Money That You Owe!" campaign, which tracks large financial commitments made by public figures.

In a post on X, al-Omar said his legal representative had dropped the case and pardoned Akkad, adding that he wished him success in his social media activities. He also said that everything pledged to the campaign had been paid. The case matters because it sits at the intersection of online speech, defamation law and public accountability in Syria.

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It also highlights the role of the Cybercrime Control Division in handling complaints tied to digital criticism, a mechanism that can have wider implications for journalists, activists and public figures. For Akkad, the episode briefly returned him to detention in the country he left after years of political upheaval and personal risk. Akkad has a long history of confrontation with Syrian authorities.

He was imprisoned twice under President Bashar al-Assad's government for documenting anti-government protests in 2011. After leaving Syria, he spent time elsewhere in the Middle East before making an 87-day journey across Europe to reach the United Kingdom in September 2015. His journey was later featured in the documentary series Exodus: Our Journey to Europe, which won a BAFTA Award, giving him a public profile beyond Syria's activist circles.

What remains unclear is whether the withdrawal of al-Omar's complaint will end all legal exposure for Akkad, given Khattab's comments that other plaintiffs had also filed cases. It is also not clear whether any further proceedings linked to the slander and defamation allegations will continue. For now, the immediate development is his release, but the case may still be watched as a test of how Syrian authorities handle online criticism and related complaints.

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