The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest Amnesty International’s warning, issued on Friday, July 24, 2026, calling on the Syrian authorities to suspend Law No. 20 of 2022 on Combating Cybercrime and to introduce fundamental amendments to ensure its compliance with Syria’s obligations under international human rights law.
While we appreciate the efforts made by the Ministry of Justice, represented by the formation of committees to study the law and the implementation of procedural safeguards last June, we see this call as a true test of the state’s ability to reconcile the need to combat cybercrime with the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and to break with the legacy of repressive laws enacted by the ousted regime.
First: The Syrian Future Movement understands the legitimate concerns raised by Amnesty International and acknowledges that the continued application of a law issued by the ousted regime, without fundamental amendments, constitutes a threat to freedom of expression and undermines the process of building trust between citizens and the state.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the organization documented five cases of journalists and activists detained for expressing their opinions online between January and June 2026, based on provisions that criminalize peaceful expression using vague and broad terms, including “undermining the prestige of the state” and “undermining the state’s financial standing.”
It is worth recalling that this law, enacted under the ousted regime, was a tool of repression and silencing dissent, and that its continued application, even with some procedural safeguards, leaves the door open to broad interpretations that could lead to arbitrary arrests.
Secondly, the Syrian Future Movement commends the positive steps taken by the Ministry of Justice, particularly the circular of June 26, 2026, which restricted pretrial detention and mandated obtaining a judicial warrant. However, it emphasizes that these safeguards are insufficient unless the law is completely repealed or fundamentally amended.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the circular is a step in the right direction, as it prohibits pretrial detention except in exceptional cases and restricts the issuance of search warrants.
However, we agree with Amnesty International’s assertion that the law still permits interference with the right to privacy and imposes prison sentences for expression-related offenses, which is inconsistent with international human rights standards.
We reiterate that the 2025 Constitutional Declaration guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and that the continued application of this law exposes critics of the authorities to the risk of arrest and prosecution simply for expressing their opinions. This undermines the process of building trust and reproduces past practices.
Third: The Syrian Future Movement recalls its consistent positions supporting freedom of expression and rejecting laws that restrict freedoms, as published on its official website, including:
- The “Ministry of Interior Code of Conduct” statement (dated July 25, 2026), which emphasized that building a professional security institution based on respect for human rights is fundamental to building the state.
- The statement on the “National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing” (dated July 22, 2026) emphasized that developing the financial and institutional system requires a transparent legal environment that protects rights and freedoms.
Fourth: The Syrian Future Movement stresses that the transitional phase Syria is undergoing requires genuine political will to purge the legislative framework of all repressive laws, and that success in this matter is a test of the state’s seriousness in building a new Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement draws attention to the statement made by Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, that “the continued application of the repressive cybercrime law issued under the Assad regime exposes critics of the authorities to the risk of arrest and prosecution simply for expressing their opinions online.”
We emphasize that any backsliding on this issue will send a negative message to the international community and investors, and will undermine Syria’s efforts to regain its international standing.
Fifth: The Syrian Future Movement presents a set of recommendations to ensure a balance between combating cybercrime and protecting fundamental freedoms:
- Immediately suspend Law No. 20 of 2022, as called for by Amnesty International, until new legislation is enacted that complies with international human rights standards and the Constitutional Declaration.
- Expedite the issuance of new legislation regulating the digital space, respecting freedom of expression, and criminalizing genuine cybercrimes (such as fraud, privacy violations, and incitement to violence) with clear and specific language that prevents vague interpretations used to suppress freedoms.
- Launch a comprehensive national dialogue on the cybercrime law, with the participation of legal experts, representatives of civil society, journalists, and activists, to ensure that the new legislation reflects the will of the Syrian people and protects their rights.
- Release all those detained for peacefully expressing their opinions and guarantee that they will not be prosecuted, in accordance with the government’s commitment to building a state of law.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates that freedom of expression is the cornerstone of any genuine democratic structure, and that any legislation restricting this freedom under the pretext of security or order merely reproduces past practices.
We believe the Syrian government is called upon today to take the bold step of suspending this law and launching a national dialogue on new legislation that protects rights and freedoms, strengthens citizens’ trust in their state institutions, and affirms that the new Syria is moving steadily towards building a state of law and institutions worthy of its people’s sacrifices.
