Nasser Bin Ghaith

Nasser bin Ghaith

After tweeting criticism of the governments of Egypt and the UAE, Dr. bin Ghaith was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in 2017. During his closed-door trial, the judge allegedly… More

Writers at Risk Database

Michel Kilo

In 2006, Kilo was arrested after signing a declaration in support of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon. He was sentenced to three years in prison for spreading false… More

Writers at Risk Database

Mohammed Abbou

In March 2005, writer, lawyer, and human rights activist Abbou was arrested for an article published nine months earlier denouncing torture in Tunisia. He was released in July 2007,… More

Writers at Risk Database

Zouhair Yahyaoui Ettounsi

Founder of TUNeZINE.com Yahyaoui was arrested in a cybercafe on charges of 'false news' and unauthorized use of the internet in June 2000. Having served half his sentence, he… More

Hussein Essou

Kurdish writer Essou was arrested from his home by Syrian Air Force intelligence agents for allegedly participating in anti-government activity and advocating reform in September 2011. As of December… More

Abduhadi Kasheet

Writer and journalist Kasheet was arrested in July 2013 by the Air Force Intelligence Branch of Aleppo. His death was first reported in October 2013, and was later reported… More

Adnan Zarra’ai

Playwright and scriptwriter Zarra’ai was arrested in February 2012 and was detained incommunicado in the State Security Detention Centre in Damascus. His rib was reportedly broken by torture.… More

Writers at Risk Database

Faraj Ahmad Birqdar

Syrian poet and activist Birqdar was arrested in March 1987 on suspicion of being a member of Syria’s Party for Communist Action. He was held without trial for 6… More

Writers at Risk Database

Aref Dalila

Academic economist Dalila was arrested in 2001 in relation to his participation in the movement to democratize the Syrian government. In 2002, Dalila was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment… More

Tal Al-Mallouhi

Poet, student, and blogger Al-Mallouhi was detained in December 2009 for the content of her blog posts. In 2011, she was convicted of “divulging information to a foreign state”… More