The Public Prosecution has referred a complaint alleging “death threats,” filed by citizens Abdul Hamid Assaf and Abboud Diab against Syrian businessman Mohammad Saber Hamsho, who was close to the former regime, to the Cybercrime Court of First Instance in Rural Damascus.
According to a summons addressed to Mohammad Saber Hamsho, he was scheduled to appear today, Monday, August 10, before the judge of the Cybercrime Court of First Instance at the Justice Palace in Rural Damascus.
Assaf told Enab Baladi that the complaint he and several activists filed concerns alleged “death threats through social media pages.”
The move comes after Hamsho filed a lawsuit against Abdul Hamid Assaf in May 2025, accusing him of “online insult and defamation” after Assaf and a group of activists published posts and videos calling for Hamsho to be held accountable and for investigations into his wealth and the alleged theft of iron from areas destroyed by the former regime.
Complaint Filed Against Hamsho With Public Prosecution
Speaking to Enab Baladi, Assaf said he and a group of activists had previously submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecution of around 70 pages, detailing alleged crimes committed by Mohammad Hamsho, including the theft of iron and other metals from areas destroyed by the former regime in Rural Damascus and the demolition of partially damaged buildings to remove steel reinforcement bars.
According to Assaf, the activists also informed the Public Prosecution about alleged death threats they had received indirectly from Hamsho through people close to him or individuals working for him. Assaf said the threats came through fake accounts or pages on social media platforms and from unknown phone numbers, while the activists’ Facebook accounts were also hacked, allegedly in an effort to conceal facts and deter them from demanding that Hamsho be prosecuted.
Assaf said the pressure on him and other activists went as far as publishing photographs of them and members of their families on Facebook and other social media platforms as a form of intimidation, intended to pressure them and make them fear for their families’ lives. He added that Hamsho had initially tried to win over the activists when their campaign began and sent intermediaries to persuade them to stop pursuing it.
Despite the alleged threats and pressure, Assaf said he and the activists in Syria would continue their campaign against Hamsho, “to expose him and reveal his crimes against the Syrian people, which are known far and wide in Syria, until he is put behind bars and justice is achieved for all Syrians whose property was violated by Hamsho,” as he put it.
Could Mohammad Hamsho Be Detained?
The judge of the Cybercrime Court of First Instance in Rural Damascus may order the detention of Mohammad Hamsho immediately after questioning him during the hearing if the legally specified conditions are met.
Article 126 of Syria’s Code of Criminal Procedure states that if, after questioning the defendant, it becomes clear that the alleged act is punishable by imprisonment or a more severe penalty and that there is sufficient evidence to charge him, the judge may issue a detention warrant.
Detention following questioning is not automatic, but is subject to the discretion of the judge of the Cybercrime Court of First Instance. Hamsho may be detained in cases including:
- If the offense attributed to him is punishable by more than one year in prison.
- If the judge determines that the defendant has no fixed or known residence in Syria and there is a risk that he may flee justice.
- If leaving the defendant, Hamsho, at liberty could jeopardize the integrity of digital evidence, such as by allowing him to delete accounts, erase data, or threaten witnesses or affected parties.
If the judge orders his detention, a detention warrant would be issued and he would be transferred to Damascus Central Prison, known as Adra prison. A detained defendant may, at any stage of the trial, request release, either with or without financial bail, and the court has discretion to approve or reject the request after seeking the opinion of the Public Prosecution.
Hamsho Lawsuits Against Hassan Akkad
After being detained for five days and then released, activist and filmmaker Hassan Akkad revealed details of his detention in the Syrian capital, Damascus, saying there were other lawsuits filed against him by Mohammad Hamsho, a businessman close to the former Syrian regime.
Akkad said Syrian media personality Mousa al-Omar had withdrawn a complaint filed against him, while two other lawsuits remained pending against him, both filed by Hamsho.
He said Hamsho filed the lawsuits through the companies Al-Muttahida and Ritengo in connection with a media campaign in which Akkad targeted the Sinalco soft drink brand and a hotel in Yaafour (Rural Damascus).
For its part, the Damascus Judicial Authority published a video in June, during Akkad’s detention, featuring Damascus Attorney General Judge Hossam Khattab, who explained the circumstances surrounding the detention.
The Attorney General said at the time that a review of Akkad’s records showed that the Public Prosecution had issued a search notice against him, in addition to several summons notices connected to other complaints filed by citizens concerning cases of online insult, defamation, and reputational harm. He did not identify those citizens.