The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on Syrian authorities to release journalist Mohamad Zaid Mastou, who was arrested on April 6 in Damascus by security agents and taken to an undisclosed location.
"The manner of his arrest and the lack of information about his whereabouts raise concerns for his safety and wellbeing," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. "The Syrian regime must be in no doubt that the world is watching and this latest case of repression of press freedom will not go unnoticed."
IFJ has learnt that Mastou, a Norwegian national of Syrian Kurdish origin, was in Syria covering the anti-government protests for the Arabic TV Al Arabiya's website, Arabiya.net when he was arrested last Wednesday. The government agents reportedly used violence to arrest the journalist who was sitting in a cyber café in Damascus before bundling him in a car and driving away. Attempts by his family to find out where he is detained have been in vain as the authorities are refusing to provide any information thereabout.
IFJ says the arrest of Mastou comes in the wake of a major crackdown on media in Syria as the government attempts to stifle reporting on the widespread protest movement in several cities which have led to clashes between security forces and protesters.
Media freedom organisations reported cases of threats, disappearances and arrests targeting journalists and bloggers who were covering the protests. These include Reuters producer Ayat Basma and cameraman Ezzat Baltaji who went missing on March 26 while journalists Doha Hassan, Zaher Omareen and Mohamed Dibo were arrested over the protests and remain in detention.
IFJ called on the international community to monitor violence against media by the Syrian authorities in a desperate attempt to resist the popular uprising demanding political changes in the region and which has already toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.
"The world needs to challenge the Syrian leadership over its brutal repression of democratic debate and press freedom," added Boumelha. "Journalists must not be scapegoats for the government's brinkmanship."
