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March 11, 2025 – Syria –
Lebanese journalist Hanin Gebran has been released from one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s notorious prisons, ending a harrowing chapter of arbitrary detention and abuse. Her freedom marks a rare moment of relief in a country where the regime continues to silence critical voices, particularly those of journalists and women.
Gebran, who was arrested in Damascus in 2022, spent over two years in custody under brutal conditions. Her imprisonment was never officially confirmed, and her whereabouts remained unknown for months. Rights groups believe she was targeted for her work exposing corruption and reporting on human rights violations. Her case underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists in Syria, where government forces routinely detain media workers without trial and subject them to mistreatment.
Reports from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), IFEX, and Prison Insider reveal that Gebran endured appalling conditions, including overcrowding, lack of medical care, and prolonged solitary confinement. Fellow detainees recall the lack of food, rampant disease, and psychological torment inflicted on prisoners. Gebran, as a woman, faced even more severe hardship. Advocates note that female prisoners often endure gender-based abuse, including threats of sexual violence and degrading treatment, as a method of control and humiliation.
Her release, while welcomed by press freedom organizations, has also reignited demands for accountability and reform. RSF emphasized that Syria remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with dozens still imprisoned or forcibly disappeared. Gebran’s experience reflects a broader pattern of media suppression, where journalists operate under constant threat from both the regime and armed groups.
Gebran has yet to speak publicly about her ordeal, but her case is already being cited as evidence in international campaigns urging sanctions and investigations into Syrian detention centers. Activists are calling for her testimony to be included in documentation efforts for future war crimes tribunals.
Her freedom is a powerful reminder of the resilience of journalists under authoritarian regimes—but it is also a chilling reflection of the price many pay to tell the truth.
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