Regime security services have transferred journalist Mazen Darwish, the director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, from Hama central prison to the city’s State Security branch, according to sources. The step is considered an indication Darwish would later be transferred to the State Security branch in Damascus, according to information obtained by the Center on Sunday.
In a statement published today, the Center called on the Assad regime to release Darwish immediately and unconditionally.
"The regime is responsible for Darwish's safety after transferring him from Hama central prison to the State Security branch in the city, and later to the State Security branch in Damascus – branch 285", the statement said.
Activists Hani Zitani and Hussein Ghurair, Darwish's colleagues, were among 240 detainees released by authorities for the occasion of Eid; both were detained with Darwish at Hama’s central prison.
Regime Air Force Intelligence stormed the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression in February 2012, arresting the center’s director Mazen Darwish, in addition to his wife, Yara Badr, blogger Razan Ghazzawi, Hussein Ghurair, Hani Zitani, Sana Zitani, Rita Daiyoub, Juan Farso, Hanadi Zahlout, Wissam Al-Ahmad, Mayyada Khalil and Maha as-Sablaty. Most of the detainees were released in May 2012.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
