Syria: Suspend use of Assad-era cybercrime law pending reform
The Syrian authorities must suspend implementation of and substantially amend Law No. 20 of 2022 on Combating Cybercrime, passed by the former Bashar al-Assad government, to bring it in line with Syria’s obligations under international human rights law, Amnesty International said today. Syria’s Ministry of Justice in June 2026 announced a review of the cybercrime law and introduced some limitations around its use, yet it continues to be used to restrict the right to freedom of expression.
Amnesty International documented five cases of journalists and activists who were detained for their online expression between January and June 2026 for periods of up to seven days under the 2022 Cybercrime Law. All five were arrested under provisions of the law that criminalize peaceful online expression through broadly and vaguely defined offences, including “undermining the prestige of the state,” “undermining the state’s financial standing,” and “electronic defamation.” Two of those individuals are facing criminal prosecution which could result in heavy prison sentences.