The Damascus Judiciary published a video statement by Damascus Attorney General Judge Hossam Khattab explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Syrian activist and filmmaker Hassan Akkad.

Khattab said in the recording, broadcast by the judiciary on Thursday evening, June 18, that citizen Mousa al-Omar submitted a petition to the Public Prosecution on June 3, accusing Hassan Akkad of crimes related to insult, defamation, and online slander.

Akkad Did Not Appear Before Cybercrime Branch

He added that the Public Prosecution office specialized in cybercrime cases reviewed the petition before referring it to the Cybercrime Branch of the Criminal Security Directorate to draw up the necessary report in accordance with legal procedures.

According to Khattab, the branch heard the statement of the plaintiff, Mousa al-Omar, through his legal representative.

Akkad was also notified several times to appear before the Cybercrime Branch, but he did not attend.

He explained that the report was later presented to the specialized Public Prosecution, which issued a search warrant against Akkad in accordance with legal procedures, before the report was finalized on June 9.

The attorney general said that on June 17, Akkad was spotted in one of Damascus’s neighborhoods, prompting the Cybercrime Branch to send a patrol
to bring him to the branch headquarters and take his statement regarding the complaint filed against him.

A review of Akkad’s file showed that a search notice had been issued against him by the Public Prosecution, alongside several appearance notices linked to other complaints filed by citizens in cases involving insult, defamation, and online slander.

Khattab said Akkad was detained at the Criminal Security Branch and his statement was taken, pending the completion of initial investigations and their referral to the competent judiciary to take the necessary legal measures.

Controversy Over the Arrest

Multiple corroborating sources reported the arrest of activist and filmmaker Hassan Akkad in Damascus on the evening of June 17, inside a restaurant in the city.

Akkad’s arrest sparked widespread reactions on social media.

Mohammad al-Abdallah, head of the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, called the arrest a worrying step.

He noted that the case is based on the Cybercrime Law issued in 2012 and amended in 2022 during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Academic Abdulrahman al-Hajj also said Akkad’s arrest sends negative messages and raises concerns related to public freedoms.

Other activists, meanwhile, voiced support for the lawsuit filed by media personality Mousa al-Omar against Akkad, considering the case to be related to allegations of defamation and personal insult.

Producer and activist Thaer Wali said he had also intended to file a lawsuit against Akkad over what he considered defamation against him, before later reversing that decision.

Tamer Turkmani, head of the Syrian Revolution Archive platform, said mediation efforts he pursued to bring al-Omar and Akkad closer to an understanding did not produce results.

For his part, Mousa al-Omar said in a video recording published after the incident that the lawsuit filed against Akkad was not related to the “Give Us the Money You Owe” campaign, but rather to what he considered personal insult and damage to reputation.

He added that he had intended to withdraw the lawsuit but reversed his decision because of Akkad’s later actions, as he put it.

Al-Omar denied any connection between the case and businessman Mohammad Hamsho or any other parties.

He also rejected linking the arrest procedures to his relationship with the government, stressing that the case followed its normal legal path before the Cybercrime Branch.

In contrast, Akkad had earlier announced that he had received a request to appear before the Cybercrime Branch.

He spoke of receiving threats on social media.

He also stated on his Instagram account that he had received a request from the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Information to temporarily stop publishing until a meeting could be held with him in Damascus.

Al-Omar said in another recording that a meeting had brought him together with Akkad in the presence of several activists, during which, al-Omar said, Akkad apologized for what had happened.

Akkad later announced his intention to issue a statement explaining the details of what happened after reaching a “safe place,” raising widespread questions and speculation across social media platforms.