Blogger to be tried on 17 March for posting critical comments

Blogger Tariq Biasi, who has been detained since 7 July 2007, denied posting comments critical of Syria on a website when he was questioned by a Damascus state security court on 22 February. The authorities identified him as the author of the offending comments on the basis of the connection through which they were posted, but he told the court he shared it with six other subscribers including an Internet café. Aged 22, Biasi is to be tried on 17 March on charges of “undermining national sentiment” and “publishing false information” under articles 285 and 286 of the criminal code, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for his release Call for Biasi"s release and sign the petition ------------------------ 07.02 - Blogger held for past seven months because of a blog comment Reporters Without Borders condemns the arbitrary detention of Syrian blogger Tariq Omar Biasi, 22, who has been held the Palestine branch in Damascus since 7 July 2007 because of a blog entry regarded as overly critical by the government. “Detaining someone because of a comment they posted online is outrageous,” the press freedom organisation said. “The Syrian government has been cracking down harder on Internet users and journalists. We call on the authorities to explain why they are holding Biasi.” Those close to Biasi say he was arrested because of a comment he wrote on a website. Five bloggers launched a campaign calling for his release (http://freetariq.org/en/) last month. The Internet is closely watched in Syria. Communications and technology minister Amr Salem decreed on 25 July 2007 that all website owners must provide the authorities with data about the authors of online posts (name, email address and title of the article or comment) or risk having their Internet access restricted or cut. The Arab Republic of Syria's constitution nonetheless guarantees “the right to freely express one's opinions by word, in writing or by any other medium.” Syria's two most important ISPs, Syria Telecommunication Establishment (STE) and Aloola, are owned by the state. Last December, Reporters Without Borders established that access to at least 100 websites was blocked. Currently, 110 sites are still inaccessible. Call for Biasi"s release and sign the petition Download the list of blocked websites in december 2007 and january 2008