Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan to appear in front of Terrorism Court

 About six months ago Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan disappeared in Damascus and was reportedly being held incommunicado by Assad's regime. He had been drawing for the Al-Fida (or Fedaa) newspaper in the city of Hama when he was grabbed. Now. he is about to be put on trial.

Very recently, Cartoonists Rights Network International received a report from a reliable but uncorroborated source, that Akram Raslan has been tortured repeatedly, and transferred from one prison to another since his illegal detention. This latest report says that he put on trial on June 3, 2013 for the crimes of disrespecting the leader, being in league with the rebels, and working against the interests of the state.

 Apparently, Assad's regime has set up a special court called terrorism court to put on trial  those people it has declared enemies of the state. ''We can only speculate on what the inevitable finding of the court will be, and what punishment might be expected if he is found guilty.'' the Network said

 The Cartoonists Rights calls on the Syrian regime to drop charges against cartoonist Akram Raslan, release him immediately, and restore him to his family.

 It is well-known that journalists working in Syria are among the most endangered journalists in the world. Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that over 37 journalists have been killed in Syria while doing their job since the Syrian revolution began.

It is only through a coordinated and fast-paced effort to communicate with the Syrian government that our collective objections to the trial of cartoonist Akram Raslan might result in his being released.

Cartoonists Network call on all cartoonists, human rights organizations, and friends of free speech, to draw cartoons, and write letters in support of Akram Raslan to the Syrian Ambassador in their country.

It worth mentioning,  in 2011 Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat was grabbed by a car load of assailants, taken to the outskirts of Damascus and beaten senseless. As the attackers left him bleeding on the side of the road, they finished up by breaking his fingers. They told him that that was a lesson to discourage him from making any further disrespectful cartoons of their boss.