Journalist Bakr al-Kassem, correspondent for Agence France Presse (AFP) and other media in northern Syria, was released overnight from Monday to Tuesday by the pro-Turkish factions that had arrested him on August 26.
“I was released during the night, I am fine and I am currently with my family”said Bakr al-Kassem. “I will return to my work as a journalist as soon as possible”.
Asked about his journalistic work
Bakr al-Kassem, 28, was arrested by military police from pro-Turkish factions in the Syrian town of Al-Bab, near the border with Turkey, where he lives. He said he was subjected to interrogation while in detention. “which focused on nature” of his journalistic work in areas held by pro-Turkish factions. The journalist said no formal charges had been brought against him. “We are relieved that Bakr has been released, and we thank all the colleagues and organizations who expressed their solidarity during his detention.”said AFP news director Phil Chetwynd.
“We hope he can return to work without restrictions.”he added. Bakr al-Kassem has worked for AFP since 2018 and has covered many episodes of the war in Syria, as well as the deadly earthquake in February 2023. He also works for Turkey’s Anadolu Agency and local Syrian media. AFP had called on local authorities to release him while local journalists and activists had staged sit-ins in the region to demand his release.
72 reporters detained or missing in Syria
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had also called for his release. RSF “congratulations” of his release in a comment on the X platform, but stressed that “72 reporters remain detained or missing across Syria”ranked 179th out of 180 on its index. Bakr al-Kassem was arrested along with his wife, journalist Nabiha Taha, as they were driving back from covering an event. She was released a few hours later.
His phone, computer and cameras were seized during a search of his home shortly after his arrest. Syria has been torn apart by the war that broke out in 2011 after the repression of pro-democracy protests, and the Turkish army and affiliated groups control two large border areas there.
