Syrian journalist arrested by Turkish-backed forces

Turkish-backed forces in rebel-held territory in northwestern Syria on Tuesday night arrested a Syrian journalist who had previously worked for international news agencies, his wife and human rights groups said.

Bakr al-Kassem, who has worked for both the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency, was arrested on Monday afternoon in the town of al-Bab in northern Aleppo province, one of the few regions in Syria still under the control of non-Kurdish anti-government groups.

Journalists and activists condemned his arrest as part of a broader crackdown on media workers. Local authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, al-Qassem was dragged and beaten while being questioned about the reason for his arrest. Al-Qassem was reportedly accused of “a number of charges, including preparing press reports for several parties.”

Al-Kassem was detained by Turkish-backed authorities in the village of Hawar Kilis on the border with Turkey, according to a video released by his wife Nabiha Taha after the first incident.

Taha reported that police detained her for over two hours before local residents and protesters secured her release. However, Al-Kassem was taken to another location and his current condition remains unclear.

“We call on the local authorities in northern Syria to immediately release our correspondent Bakr al-Kassem and allow him to resume his work without hindrance,” said AFP editor-in-chief Sophie Huet.