Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network Demands Release of Detained Reporter Hassan Zaza
June 27, 2025
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June 27, 2025 – Kurdistan/Iraq –
Kurdish journalist Hassan Zaza was arrested by Syrian government security forces in Damascus, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Zaza, a well-known Kurdish media figure, was reportedly seized by agents from the General Intelligence Directorate without prior warning, warrant, or explanation. His sudden detention marks another alarming episode in Syria’s ongoing repression of independent journalists and Kurdish voices.
Zaza had been working in Damascus and was known for contributing to various Kurdish media outlets that report on human rights violations, political developments, and the lived experiences of the Kurdish population in Syria. His reporting had not previously drawn public legal challenges, but the Syrian regime has increasingly targeted Kurdish journalists for alleged ties to opposition groups or accusations of “inciting dissent.” Rights organizations believe Zaza’s arrest is politically motivated and tied to his ethnicity and independent reporting.
According to SOHR sources, Zaza was taken from a public area in Damascus and transferred to an undisclosed location. No information has been provided regarding the charges he may face, nor has he been granted legal representation or contact with his family. The Observatory emphasized that Zaza’s arrest fits into a broader pattern of systemic crackdowns on press freedom in regime-controlled areas, particularly against minorities and those affiliated with Kurdish political movements.
Human rights groups and media watchdogs have condemned the arrest, urging the Syrian government to disclose Zaza’s whereabouts and release him immediately. They warn that arbitrary detentions of journalists, especially those from Kurdish communities, contribute to the collapse of free expression in Syria. The arrest comes amid a wider escalation in government censorship, surveillance, and intimidation of journalists across the country.
Zaza’s case underscores the perilous conditions for media workers in Syria, where freedom of the press remains virtually nonexistent. As the government continues to silence dissenting voices, calls are growing from international organizations for transparency, judicial accountability, and protections for journalists like Hassan Zaza, whose only crime appears to be telling the truth.
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