Syrian activist Hassan Akkad detained in Damascus, raising concerns

Syrian activist and documentary maker Hassan Akkad was detained at Damascus International Airport by the Syrian General Security Directorate (GSD) on the night he landed for a family visit. Akkad had fled the war for the United Kingdom in 2015 and won international recognition with a documentary he filmed while working as a cleaner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Akkad's wife Yasmine told the BBC: "My husband was unable to access his lawyer for 14 hours; as a family we are very concerned."

British Foreign Office spokeswoman Helena Greaves said Akkad was a British citizen and that consular access requests had been delivered through the country's embassy in Damascus. Syrian Justice Ministry spokesman Mounir Khaddam said the investigation involved "internal security matters" but that he could not provide further detail. Human rights organisation Amnesty International issued a statement demanding Akkad's immediate release.

Developments in Syria came at a moment when the practices of the country's post-Assad transitional government are being closely watched internationally. Brent crude reacted modestly to news from Syria, with no notable movement at the opening of regional equity markets. Syrian community associations in the UK said they would hold a protest march in London.