Syria frees activist Hassan Akkad days after his detention

Syrian activist and documentary maker Hassan Akkad, who lives in the United Kingdom, has been released after being detained in Damascus about a week ago. According to Al Jazeera, Akkad had been taken into custody during a documents check while filming inside the country during the transition period. His family and legal team had argued the detention was not carried out within proper legal limits.

After his release, Akkad said in a short message that he was well and thanked Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders for raising his case internationally. The new Damascus authorities announced that, following the release, they are working on statements regarding their relationship with civil society.

The case is being read as a symbolic test for Syria's transition period regarding press freedom, voluntary return and political rehabilitation. According to Al Jazeera, the legal framework governing the new Damascus authorities' relationship with independent media and human-rights organisations will be clarified in the coming weeks.