Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan passed away under torture: Cartoonist watchdog says

 Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan passed away under torture in Bashar al-Assad security chambers, the International Cartoonists Rights Network said.

 Dr. Robert Russell, Executive Director of Cartoonists Rights Network International said in a statement, Raslan '' is reported to be in a mass grave somewhere near Damascus.'' Adding,  ''Our reliable but for obvious reasons anonymous sources further allege that the murder of Akram and other condemned prisoners was carried out by Mohammad Nassif Kheir Bek, currently the Deputy Vice President for Security Affairs in Syria.'' 

About nine months ago young Akram Raslan was abducted from the offices of his newspaper and "disappeared" into the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's prisons for the next six months.  

The Palestinian Cartoonist Hani Abbas wrote on his F.B page, "Akram Raslan Is free now'', recently our main interest not to be released as much as we want him to still a live'', he added.

The International artist had been drawing for the Al-Fida (or Fedaa) newspaper in the city of Hama when Regime security arrested him 10 months ago.

Cartoonists Rights Network International revealed months ago that it had received a report from a reliable source, that Akram Raslan had been tortured repeatedly, and transferred from one prison to another since his illegal detention.

Raslan 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.

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

It is well-known that journalists working in Syria are among the most endangered journalists in the world. 

Cartoonists Network was called 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.

 The statement said that Readers might remember the case of Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat who in 2011 had his hands broken by the Syrian regime's thugs. As they finished the job they told Ali that his broken hands would prevent him from disrespecting their master through his cartoons.  Ali Ferzat was lucky.  He survived the beating and eventually found safe haven in another Middle Eastern country.   His revenge was to live to draw again.