has learned that Fatima Khaled Saad, a young citizen journalist based in the port city of Latakia, has been held for the past month following her arrest on 28 June. “We constantly discover violations of freedom of information that have been concealed by the regime," Reporters Without Borders said. “It seems that Saad's only crime was to have possessed recordings of songs praising the uprising by Syria's youth. “She has been subjected to a great deal of physical and psychological violence during her arbitrary detention, which must end. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Saad and all the other journalists and citizen journalists detained in Syria." Security officials arrested Saad, her father, Khaled Saad, and her brother during a search of their home in 28 June in which they seized her digital camera, memory card and telephone. Her father and brother were released but Fatima Saad was rushed to Latakia military hospital after being mistreated during a lengthy interrogation by intelligence officers. On 17 July, she was transferred to the headquarters of the general intelligence department in Damascus where, according to some sources, she is being held in Section 291. Reporters Without Borders is very concerned about her present physical condition. The way the regime tends to treat its opponents is grounds for concern about Saad's fate. It is clear that the nature of her past activities is such that her life could now be in danger.
