Human rights lawyer Abdullah al-Khalil was released on 28 March.
Following his release, he sent Amnesty International a message saying, "Best wishes to everyone."
There are unconfirmed reports that he was beaten and otherwise ill-treated while detained. It is unclear whether there are any charges outstanding against him or whether he continues to be harassed on account of his work. Amnesty International will continue to monitor the situation and update you if more details regarding his arrest, detention and release become available.
Abdullah al-Khalil is a well-known lawyer who represents political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. He was arrested on a street in al-Raqqa, eastern Syria, on 3 February 2012. It was the fourth time he was arrested since May 2011. Apparently on account of his human rights work, his family’s farmhouse was demolished on the orders of the local authorities and he also received some death threats.