Syrians to be imprisoned for up to 15 years for minor criticism of regime

Updated Syrian legislation could see Syrians imprisoned for up to 15 years over minor criticism of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, in what is the latest form of censorship implemented throughout the country.

Anyone found guilty of calling for changes to the government or constitution — already a crime — will be further penalised under the law which would make it easier for Syrian security services to monitor, control, and detain between seven to 15 years those who express negative views about the Assad regime online.

Human rights groups have criticised Damascus’s updated legislation as not only a way to make it easier for the regime to crack down on even the smallest forms of dissent or freedom of expression, but also that it would enable it to do so through the practice of enforced disappearances.