“Any Syrian who publishes false information or exaggerated information that undermines the prestige (…) of the state will be imprisoned for at least six months,” the Syrian presidency wrote in a statement.
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Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad promulgated a law Monday, March 28, providing for a six-month prison sentence for Syrians residing in the country who disseminate information “false” Where “exaggerated” criticizing the state.
Under the previous law, only Syrians residing abroad could so far be sentenced to prison terms, likely in absentia, for disseminating information deemed harmful to the state.
“Any Syrian who publishes false information or exaggerated information that damages the prestige (…) of the state will be imprisoned for at least six months”, the Syrian presidency wrote in a statement. The same penalty will apply to any Syrian who “publishes information likely to enhance the reputation of an enemy state”, added the presidency, without specifying which countries it was. The new law also introduced a one-year prison sentence for “any Syrian who, in writing or verbally, has called for the cession of Syrian territory”according to the press release.
“People across the country live in fear of being arrested for speaking their mind, belonging to a dissident political party, reporting or defending human rights”the United Nations Human Rights Council said in March.