On Monday an anti-terrorism court in Damascus (Syria) confirmed an amnesty ruling in favour of journalist and Human Rights activist Mazen Darwish. After more than three years in prison, Darwish has now been released.
 
Together with Darwish, his colleagues from the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression in the Arab world (SCM),  Hani Al-Zitani and Hussein Ghreer were also set free. In June 2015, following a proposal by the S&D Group, the European Parliament adopted an urgency resolution calling for the immediate release of Mazen Darwish and his colleagues.
 
S&D MEP Arne Lietz, who initiated the urgency resolution of the European Parliament, said:
 
"I am relieved that the trial effectively ended with the unconditional release of Mazen Darwish from prison. Mazen has paid a heavy price for his fight for press freedom and human rights in Syria."
 
Josef Weidenholzer, S&D vice president and spokesperson on Human Rights, added:
 
"It is satisfying to see that our work does have an impact. However we recognise that a huge amount remains to be done to secure human rights in Syria. The Assad regime has imprisoned over 100,000 activists and the ongoing civil war has claimed over 240,000 lives. In this context the case of Darwish is only the tip of the iceberg, however it shows that concerted international pressure can deliver results. We must continue to fight for the protection of journalists and human rights activists not only in Syria but across the globe.”
 
In recognition of his year-long struggle, Mazen Darwish was presented with the UNESCO press freedom price 2015 as well as other national and international human rights rewards.

S&D press contact