Syria arrests journalist over war report
Syrian secret police have arrested a well-respected journalist after he published a story about possible war plans. He is possibly being held without access to a lawyer, and will be tried in a state security court.
[Al-Hayat Damascus bureau chief Ibrahim Hamidi], 35, was arrested by the mukhabarat (secret police) on December 23 after writing a detailed report of Syrian contingency plans to welcome one million Iraqi refugees in the event of war.[...]
He has been cut off from the outside world, apart from a short visit
from his brother and, possibly, from a lawyer appointed by Al-Hayat.He faces trial in a state security court, which would mean he could
not have legal representation.The official Syrian news agency said he had published “false”
– Guardian, Syrian reporter jailed for revealing war plans.
information, an offence that carries a jail sentence of three years
and a fine of about £14,000.