Monday, December 19, 2011

Syrian authorities release US-born blogger Razan Ghazzawi



The campaigner for press freedom was charged last week with fomenting sectarian strife and spreading false information

guardian.co.uk, Monday 19 December 2011

"Syrian authorities have released a US-born blogger who was arrested at the border while on her way to attend a conference in Jordan.

Razan Ghazzawi, a campaigner for press freedom, was detained on 4 December and charged last week with fomenting sectarian strife and spreading false information through a secret organisation – charges punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, where she worked, said in a statement that Ghazzawi was freed on Sunday night on bail.

It said that she would still stand trial at a later, unspecified date.

Ghazzawi is among dozens of Syrian bloggers and activists who have been arrested during the nine-month uprising against the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad."