SOHR reports detention of two protest organizers in Damascus over Decree 66

What happened

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that two individuals who organized protests in Damascus related to Decree 66 remain in detention several days after their arrest. These protests were driven by demands from people affected by the decree, which has reportedly sparked grievances.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure or battlefield claim should be read as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source. According to SOHR, the arrests followed a complaint linked to the organizers’ role in mobilizing movements and advocating for rights-based demands from those impacted by the decree. No additional official information on charges or detention conditions is provided in the source context.

Decree 66 has been a focal point for local discontent, particularly concerning economic and social consequences borne by populations in Damascus and possibly beyond. The detention of protest leaders may signal continuing governmental sensitivity to public dissent related to this decree.

Known from the source

• Two organizers of protests related to Decree 66 are detained in Damascus.
• The protests involved people affected by Decree 66 who made rights-based demands.
• Arrests occurred following a complaint linked to the organizers’ role.

What remains unclear

There is no independent confirmation of the legal status of the detainees or further detail about the protests themselves in the source material. Responsibility for the arrests, specific allegations, and any judicial process remain unreported.

What remains unclear: Verify the identities and detention status of the two protest organizers mentioned by SOHR. Confirm details of the protests connected to Decree 66, including scale and dates. Check for official Syrian government statements on the arrests or protests. Confirm that the source is accurately attributed as SOHR specialist public source.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: SOHR Syria. Open the source.