Update: Hassan Akkad was released on 21 June 2026 after the complaint against him was withdrawn โ€” but other cases may remain, and the Assad-era cyber-crime law is still on the books.  Read the latest โ†’

Damascus, Syria  ยท  A campaign for free expression

Free
Hassan Akkad

Hassan is a Syrian filmmaker and former refugee. After the fall of Assad he came home and launched the โ€œGive us the money you oweโ€ campaign, pressing the powerful figures who publicly pledged reconstruction donations but never paid up. He was detained on 17 June 2026 and released five days later, after the complaint against him was withdrawn โ€” but he still faces other cases, and the Assad-era law used against him remains. We're calling for those cases to be dropped, that law repealed, and free expression protected.

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Hassan Akkad, Syrian-British filmmaker and activist
2017
BAFTA-Winning Film
87
Day Journey to Safety, 2015
2025
Returned Home to Damascus
2026
Pursued for Asking Questions
Evidence & Credibility

What We Know

Serious advocacy requires honest evidence. We separate what is verified by reporting and official statements from what is reported but not yet confirmed โ€” because credibility is the foundation of this campaign.

Verified Facts

โœ“ Sourced
Award-winning filmmaker & former refugee Hassan won a BAFTA for Exodus: Our Journey to Europe (2017), volunteered as an NHS cleaner on a COVID ward, wrote the memoir Hope Not Fear, and became a British citizen in 2022.
Source: Wikipedia ยท The Guardian, 2020
He returned to Damascus and documented corruption After the fall of the Assad regime, Hassan returned to Syria in 2025 and used his platform to call out officials and corruption in the country's reconstruction.
Source: Foreign Policy, June 2026
The "Give us the money you owe" campaign In 2026 he launched a popular campaign โ€” ู‡ุงุชูˆุง ุงู„ูู„ูˆุณ โ€” pressing public figures who pledged donations to the Syrian Development Fund for reconstruction but never paid. He says dozens of names and millions of dollars in pledges remain uncollected.
Source: Enab Baladi
Detained on 17 June, released on 21 June 2026 He was held for about five days under the Assad-era cyber-crime law (Decree 17/2012), then released after media figure Moussa al-Omar withdrew his defamation complaint and said the pledged money had been paid.
Source: Syria TV ยท Enab Baladi

Reported, Not Yet Confirmed

โš  Unconfirmed
Two cases from Mohammad Hamsho remain In his post-release statement, Hassan says he still faces two lawsuits brought via companies linked to businessman Mohammad Hamsho โ€” Al-Muttahida (the Sinalco brand) and Ritengo (the Yaafour hotel) โ€” and that the Assad-era cyber-crime law used against him is still in force.
Source: Enab Baladi ยท Hassan Akkad's statement
Death threats Hassan has said he received death threats after launching the campaign. This is reported by him and has not been independently verified.
Reported by: Hassan Akkad โ€” awaiting independent confirmation
Additional complaints by businessman Mohammad Hamsho It has been reported that businessman Mohammad Hamsho โ€” named in the campaign โ€” filed complaints through companies linked to him. The details have not been independently confirmed.
Reported by: social media accounts โ€” not independently confirmed
We move claims into Verified Facts only when they are confirmed by official documents, statements from Hassan or his representatives, or credible independent journalism. We do not amplify rumour.
Why This Matters

The Principles at Stake

This is bigger than one filmmaker. It is a test of whether the new Syria protects the right to ask hard questions โ€” or punishes it.

Freedom of Expression

Holding the powerful to their public pledges is journalism, not a crime. Peaceful speech should never be met with prosecution.

Accountability & Transparency

Money pledged for rebuilding Syria was promised in public. Whether it was actually paid should be answerable โ€” openly.

Due Process, Not Assad's Laws

Reaching for a cyber-crime law written under the old regime to silence a critic betrays the revolution that promised something better.

Latest Developments

Recent Updates

All developments are dated, sourced, and labelled by type.

Released
21 June 2026

Released after the complaint was withdrawn

After about five days in detention, Hassan was freed when Moussa al-Omar withdrew his complaint and said the pledged money had been paid. Other cases may remain.

Al Jazeera Read more โ†’
Detention
17 June 2026

Detained from a Damascus restaurant

Security forces took Hassan from a restaurant in the Malki district under the Assad-era cyber-crime law, holding him for about five days.

Syria TV Read more โ†’
Statement
~8 June 2026

Earlier: "I'm fine โ€” but I can't speak until I'm safe"

After an earlier loss of contact following his summons, Hassan posted that he was safe โ€” about a week before his 17 June detention.

Ultra Syria Read more โ†’
All Updates & Press Coverage
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