Call for charges against cyberdissident Habib Saleh to be spelled out

Reporters Without Borders today called on the Syrian authorities to specify charges against writer and cyber-dissident Habib Saleh, who was arrested by security agents on 6 May 2008 without any explanation. Saleh, 61, who has been arrested three times in seven years, was picked up while visiting markets in Tartus in the country's north-west. His wife said his arrest was linked to publication of online articles on various websites, particularly Elaph (http://www.elaph.com), which is censored in Syria because of its independent approach to news. “He was writing an article a day after coming out of prison. The Syrian authorities consider that he is breaking the rules imposed on subjects like religion, politics or repression on the part of the Syrian regime,” she told Reporters Without Borders. “Habib Saleh has already spent 27 months in prison because of articles he has posted online,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “He is once again being held secretly, after only eight months of freedom. We ask the authorities to provide information about the charges against him.” Saleh was sentenced to three years in prison during the “Damascus Spring” in 2002 and was released on 9 September 2004. He was again sentenced to three years in jail on 15 August 2006, under Article 286 of the criminal code for “publishing false news” in relation to articles posted online. He was released on 12 September 2007. Syria has a deserved listing on Reporters Without Borders roll of “Internet Enemies”. The country still applies state of emergency legislation established 45 years ago. The law on the Internet is very strict. Telecommunications minister, Amr Salem, decreed on 25 July 2007 that owners of websites must keep personal information about authors of articles and columns. Three cyber-dissidents are currently behind bars for having exercised their right to free expression on the Internet.