The Cartoonists Rights International reports that Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan is heading to trial. He disappeared six months ago.
Despite repeated inquiries through a number of sources, Cartoonists Rights Network International has found it difficult to find any reliable or corroborated reports on Akram Raslan’s situation.
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Very recently, we did receive a report from a reliable but un corroborated source, that Akram Raslan has been tortured repeatedly, and transferred from one prison to another since his illegal detention. This latest report says that he will be put on trial on June 3, 2013 for the crimes of disrespecting the leader, being in league with the rebels, and working against the interests of the state.
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Apparently, the Bashir al-Assad regime has set up a special court to try those people it has declared enemies of the state. We can only speculate on what the inevitable finding of the court will be, and what punishment might be expected if he is found guilty.