Syrian-British activist Hassan Akkad announced on Sunday that he had been released, days after his campaign group reported that Syrian authorities had arrested him in apparent connection to his online activities. In a statement on Instagram, where he has more than 200,000 followers, Akkad wrote: "I'm back home safe and sound. My heartfelt gratitude goes to everyone who supported me and my family during this period. More soon."
Background of the Arrest
Akkad, who was detained for a period at the start of the country's civil war in 2011, had been urging influential figures to honor donation pledges to a public development fund established after the December 2024 toppling of Bashar al-Assad. His arrest drew criticism, with some observers drawing parallels to practices of the former government. According to two of his close friends who spoke to AFP, Akkad was taken into custody at a cafe while they were watching football together.
Campaign and Allegations
The "Give Us the Money You Owe" campaign, which Akkad launched two months ago, issued a statement after his arrest stating that "the allegations appear to be connected to Hassan's public statements and online activity." The campaign has been focused on holding officials accountable for pledges made to the development fund, which was established following the political transition in Syria.
