Bassel Khartabil: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''Bassel Khartabil''' (22 May 1981 – 3 October 2015; {{lang-ar|باسل خرطبيل}}), also known as '''Bassel Safadi''' ({{lang-ar|باسل صفدي}}), was a Palestinian Syrian [[open-source model|open-source]] software developer. He was [[Indefinite detention|detained without trial]] by the Syrian government in 2012<ref name="alkarama-1763" /> and was [[Secret execution|secretly executed]] in 2015. Human rights organizations claim that he was detained for his activities in support of [[Human rights in Syria#Freedom of speech and the media|freedom of expression]],<ref name="hrwdisclose">{{cite web|date=7 October 2015|title=Syria: Disclose Whereabouts of Detained Freedom of Expression Advocate|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/10/07/syria-disclose-whereabouts-detained-freedom-expression-advocate|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref> and the [[Working Group on Arbitrary Detention|United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] considered his detention to have been [[Arbitrary detention|arbitrary]].<ref name="alkarama-1763" />

Khartabil was born in [[Damascus]] to a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother, and was raised in Syria,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Corbyn |first=Zoë |date=2015-12-11 |title=Bassel Khartabil: fears for man who brought open internet to the Arab world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/11/bassel-khartabil-fears-for-man-who-brought-open-internet-to-the-arab-world |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> where he specialized in open source software development. He was [[chief technology officer]] (CTO) and co-founder of collaborative research company Aiki Lab<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/Aiki_lab |title=Aiki lab}}</ref> and was CTO of Al-Aous,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-aous.com/|title=الأوس للنشر|author=الأوس للنشر|access-date=4 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117003042/http://www.al-aous.com/|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> a publishing and research institution dedicated to archaeological sciences and arts in Syria. He has served as project lead and public affiliate for [[Creative Commons]] Syria,<ref>{{citeCite web|url=httphttps://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Syria|title=Syria - Creative Commons|website=wiki.creativecommons.org|accessdate=15 December 2023}}</ref> and has contributed to [[Mozilla]] [[Firefox]], [[Wikipedia]], [[Openclipart]], [[Fabricatorz]], and [[Sharism]].<ref>{{citeCite web |url=http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/blogger/bassel-safadi-khartabil|title=Threatened Voices /&#124; Bloggers /&#124; Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil|urlwebsite=http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/blogger/bassel-safadi-khartabil|accessdate=15 December 2023}}</ref> He "is credited with opening up the Internet in Syria and vastly extending online access and knowledge to the Syrian people."<ref>{{cite news| title= Request for Written Answer on the Question of the Imprisonment of Bassel Safadi Khartabil|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2013-014046+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN|access-date=9 April 2014 |publisher=European Parliament |date=18 March 2014}}</ref>

His last work included an open, 3D virtual reconstruction<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newpalmyra.org|title=#NEWPALMYRA|work=newpalmyra.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Forte|first1=Andrea|last2=Andalibi|first2=Nazanin|last3=Greenstadt|first3=Rachel|date=2017|title=Privacy, Anonymity, and Perceived Risk in Open Collaboration: A Study of Tor Users and Wikipedians|journal=Proceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing |chapter=Privacy, Anonymity, and Perceived Risk in Open Collaboration |date=2017|series=CSCW '17|location=New York, NY, USA|publisher=ACM|pages=1800–1811|doi=10.1145/2998181.2998273|isbn=9781450343350|s2cid=16197512}}</ref> of the ancient city of [[Palmyra]] in Syria,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bassel Safadi discusses project involving 3D reconstruction of ancient city of Palmyra at San Francisco Art Institute, live from Syria via Skype|url=https://vimeo.com/66518396|access-date=1 July 2013|date=2013-05-19}}</ref> real time visualization, and development with Fabricatorz for the web programming framework [[Aiki Framework]]. This was later created and displayed in his honor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/3d-printed-tetrapylon-palmyra-syria-creative-commons-1.4090368|title=How a 3D-printed monument is helping an ancient Syrian city rise again|work=CBC News|access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, the Bassel Khartabil Free Culture Fellowship was announced in Khartabil's memory.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://jimmywalesfoundation.org/memorial-fund-grants-launched-in-memory-of-bassel-khartabil/ | title=Memorial Fund Grants Launched in Memory of Bassel Khartabil| date=2018-02-08}}</ref> The fellowship awards $50,000 and additional support to individuals developing open culture in their communities. The fellowship was created by Creative Commons, Fabricatorz Foundation, [[Jimmy Wales Foundation]], Mozilla, [[NEWPALMYRA | #NEWPALMYRA]], and [[Wikimedia]].

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On 15 March 2012, Khartabil was detained amid arrests in the [[Mazzeh]] district of Damascus by [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|Military Security Branch 215]].<ref name="alkarama-1763">{{cite news |title=UN Calls for the Release of Freedom of Speech Advocate Bassel Khartabil |url=http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil |access-date=25 June 2015 |publisher=Alkarama |date=23 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625170229/http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil |archive-date=25 June 2015}}</ref> That day marked the one-year anniversary of the [[Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war|Syrian uprising]], with pro- and anti-government protesters demonstrating in Damascus and elsewhere in the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=As revolt against Assad enters 2nd year, 'up to 500,000' Syrians may flee crackdown|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/03/15/200783.html|access-date=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=15 March 2012}}</ref>

Khartabil was interrogated and allegedly tortured for five days by [[Military Branch 215]]{{citation-needed|date=February 2023}}. One week after his arrest, security forces reportedly took him to his home where they confiscated his computers and his files. He was then transferred to the Interrogation Division Branch 248 and detained there [[Solitary confinement|incommunicado]] for 9 months. On 9 December 2012, Khartabil was brought before a military prosecutor who charged him with "spying for an enemy State" under Articles 272 and 274 of the Syrian Criminal Code. Khartabil was then sent to the [[Adra Prison]] in Damascus.<ref name="alkarama-1763" />

On 12 December 2013, a request for written answer on the question of Khartabil's imprisonment was raised before the [[European Parliament]] to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative), stating that "his voluntary work, always non-violent in nature, was greatly valued by Syrians of all backgrounds, and it is strongly suspected that his arrest was part of an effort to restrict access to online communities and discourses and stifle free expression in Syria."<ref>{{cite news| title= Request for Written Answer on the Question of the Imprisonment of Bassel Safadi Khartabil|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2013-014046+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN|access-date=15 March 2014 |publisher=European Parliament |date=12 December 2013}}</ref> On 18 March 2014, the written answer from High Representative/Vice-President [[Catherine Ashton]] was published, stating that "The HR/VP deplores the ongoing imprisonment of Bassel Safadi Khartabil, shares the concerns at his situation and follows it very closely."<ref>{{cite news| title= Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission on the Question of the Imprisonment of Bassel Safadi Khartabil|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2013-014046&language=EN|access-date=9 April 2014 |publisher=European Parliament |date=18 March 2014}}</ref>

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=== Prison paintings ===

While Khartabil was in prison he [[Prison art|made paintings]], four of which have been smuggled out.

<gallery class="center">

File:Deformity-Bassel-6-17-15.jpg|June 17, 2015, Damascus Central Jail "An attempt to draw a stereotype. This is the stereotype I have in mind for the deformed souls, I have to deal with every day at jail. There are a lot of them."

File:Resurrection-Bassel-7-10-15.jpg|July 10, 2015, Damascus Central Jail. "From time to time I resurrect old black and white dreams from my childhood memories."

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=== #FREEBASSEL campaign ===

After his detention became widely known in early July 2012, a global campaign was launched calling for his immediate release.<ref>{{cite news|title=Activists launch #FREEBASSEL campaign to bring about release of Syrian web entrepreneur, well-known in technology communities|url=http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/activists-launch-freebassel-campaign-bring-about-release-syrian-web-entrepreneur-well|access-date=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=4 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Galperin|first=Eva|author1-link=Eva Galperin|title=Open Source Developer Bassel Khartabil Detained in Syria|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/07/open-source-developer-bassel-khartabil-detained-syria|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|access-date=5 July 2012|date=2012-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Rong|last2=Chu|first2=Kar-Hai|date=17 April 2017 |title=Networked publics and the organizing of collective action on Twitter: Examining the #Freebassel campaign|journal=Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies|

volume=25|issue=3|pages=393–408|doi=10.1177/1354856517703974|pmid=31548831|pmc=6756764}}</ref> Notable Internet companies like Mozilla,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mozilla Foundation and EFF join hunt for Syrian open source developer |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/06/bassel_khartabil_syria/ |work=The Register |last=McAllister |first=Neil |access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Free-software activists hope for detained engineer's freedom |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/free-software-activists-hope-for-detained-engineers-freedom/ |work=The Register |last=Tam |first=Donna |access-date=3 April 2015 |date=11 July 2012}}</ref> Wikipedia, Global Voices,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil |url=http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/blogger/bassel-safadi-khartabil |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=4 July 2012}}</ref> EFF<ref>{{cite news|title=Bassel Khartabil Letter of Support |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/30/eff-letter/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=30 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025618/http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/30/eff-letter/ |archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and Creative Commons<ref>{{cite news|title=Please help us Free Bassel, open source developer and CC volunteer |last=Ito |first=Joi |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/33119 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=29 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Re: Call for the release of Bassel Khartabil |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/29/cc-letter/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=29 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092141/http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/29/cc-letter/|archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> wrote letters to the Syrian government urging his immediate release. Notable individuals including [[Lawrence Lessig]],<ref>{{cite news|title=On the fight for liberty: 4 July 2012 |last=Lessig |first=Lawrence |url=http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/26484646550/on-the-fight-for-liberty-july-4-2012 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Lawrence Lessig |date=4 July 2012}}</ref> [[Joi Ito]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Please help us Free Bassel, open source developer and CC volunteer |last=Ito |first=Joi |url=http://joi.ito.com/weblog/2012/06/29/please-help-us.html |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Lawrence Lessig |date=29 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=クリエイティブ・コモンズのボランティアでもあるオープンソース開発者、Bassel氏解放への支援呼びかけ |last=Ito |first=Joi |url=http://joi.ito.com/jp/archives/2012/07/02/005533.html |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Joi Ito |date=29 June 2012}}</ref> [[Mitchell Baker]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Please help us Free Bassel, open source developer and CC volunteer |url=https://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2012/07/05/contributor-imprisoned-in-syria/ |access-date=3 April 2015 | last=Baker |first=Mitchell |publisher=Mitchell Baker |date=5 July 2012}}</ref> [[Jillian York]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Free Bassel |last=York |first=Jillian |url=http://jilliancyork.com/2012/06/30/free-bassel/ |access-date=3 April 2015 |date=30 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2012/07/05/contributor-imprisoned-in-syria|title=Contributor Imprisoned in Syria|work=lizardwrangler.com}}</ref> Mohamed Nanabhay<ref>{{cite news|title=Bassel Safadi at the CC Arab World workshop in... |last=Nanabhay |first=Mohamed |url=http://mohamed.nanabhay.com/post/26267055525/bassel-safadi-at-the-cc-arab-world-workshop-in |access-date=13 August 2020 |publisher=Jillian York |date=1 July 2012}}</ref> and Barry Threw<ref>{{cite news|title=Please Help Free Bassel Khartabil #FREEBASSEL |last=Threw |first=Barry |url=http://www.barrythrew.com/2012/06/29/please-help-free-bassel-khartabil-freebassel/ |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Barry Threw |date=29 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126170937/http://www.barrythrew.com/2012/06/29/please-help-free-bassel-khartabil-freebassel/ |archive-date=26 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> wrote public letters of support. [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Activists launch #FREEBASSEL campaign to bring about release of Syrian web entrepreneur, well-known in technology communities |url=http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/activists-launch-freebassel-campaign-bring-about-release-syrian-web-entrepreneur-well |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=4 July 2012}}</ref> Framablog,<ref>{{cite news| title=#FREEBASSEL Lettre de soutien au syrien Bassel Khartabil |url=https://framablog.org/2012/07/03/free-bassel-khartabil/ |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=Framablog |date=3 July 2012 |language=fr |trans-title=Letter of support for Syrian Bassel Khartabil}}</ref> and [[Hacker News]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Opensource contributor Bassel Khartabil detained in Syria. Needs help |first=Bjorn |last=Wijers |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4192957 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=YCombinator Hackernews |date=3 July 2012}}</ref> wrote about the effort.

In October 2012, [[Amnesty International]] released a document with information suggesting that Khartabil has been ill-treated and even tortured.<ref>{{cite news| title=Call for the Release of Bassel Khartabil |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/34771 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=29 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Free/open source programmer and Creative Commons activist Bassel Khartabil faces torture in notorious Syrian prison |url=http://boingboing.net/2012/10/31/freeopen-source-programmer-an.html |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |access-date=3 April 2015 |work=Boing Boing |date=31 October 2012}}</ref> On 23 October, the Taiwan chapter of Amnesty International led a letter-writing event at Insomnia Cafe to raise awareness about Khartabil in [[Taipei, Taiwan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Amnesty Taiwan Syria Urgent Action - FREE BASSEL |url=http://insomnia608.pixnet.net/album/set/2105945 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Insomnia Blog |date=23 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AMNESTY TAIWAN: SYRIA URGENT ACTION - #FREEBASSEL Letter|url=https://project-octopus.org/schema/creative-works/8e451c39-f46d-40db-a27e-286e23d23ca4 |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=27 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095353/https://project-octopus.org/schema/creative-works/8e451c39-f46d-40db-a27e-286e23d23ca4|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AMNESTY TAIWAN: SYRIA URGENT ACTION - #FREEBASSEL |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/19/amnestytaiwan/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626152443/http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2012/10/19/amnestytaiwan/|archive-date=26 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 26 November, he was named one of the top 100 global thinkers by Foreign Policy for his resistance.<ref>{{cite news| title=Top 100 Global Thinkers |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/11/26/the-fp-top-100-global-thinkers/ |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

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At the Index on Censorship Awards, Jon Phillips said of Khartabil<blockquote>Locking up Bassel only locks out his personal freedom. By locking up Bassel, his Syrian captors are accidentally locking out themselves from the future...thousands of people that Bassel's work helped, now help him by spreading the message #FREEBASSEL. This is what truly builds Syria and connects it to the global connected future. This award proves that his lock-up, is NOT a lock-out of his digital freedom.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harmon |first=Elliot |title=Imprisoned internet pioneer Bassel Khartabil wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/37612 |publisher=Creative Commons |access-date=11 May 2015 |date=21 March 2013}}</ref></blockquote>

A letter supporting him was sent to the [[European Parliament|European Union Parliament]] later that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=The imprisonment of Bassel Safadi Khartabil |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2013/12/10/eu-parliament/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=12 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001624/http://freebassel.org/campaign/statements/2013/12/10/eu-parliament/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Marc Weidenbaum]] gathered participants to create 38 [https://soundcloud.com/disquiet/sets/disquiet0108-freebassel musical pieces] that might be used as a soundscape for an immersive, completed digital visualization of ancient Palmyra.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disquiet Junto Project 0108: Free Bassel Create a soundscape for the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra |url=http://disquiet.com/2014/01/23/disquiet0108-freebassel/ |publisher=Disquiet Junto |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=3 April 2015 |first=Marc |last=Weidenbaum}}</ref> A second iteration of #FREEBASSELDAY involved a Wikipedia "edit-a-thon", meetups, the creation of a cookbook in Khartabil's honor, and press mentions.<ref>{{cite news|title=In Syria, a detained Internet activist remains in limbo |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/still-no-answer-in-mystery-behind-detained-syrian-internet-activist/ |access-date=9 April 2014 |publisher=CNET |date=11 March 2014}}</ref>[[File:Freebassel-jan-2017.jpg|thumb|220x220px|The Free Bassel website as of January 2017]]

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[[Rebecca MacKinnon]] wrote about Khartabil and the Zone 9 Bloggers in the ''[[World Policy Journal]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/fall2014/joining-zone-nine |title=Joining Zone Nine |publisher=World Policy Journal |last=MacKinnon |first=Rebecca |date=1 September 2014 |access-date=3 April 2015 |archive-date=6 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206231154/http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/fall2014/joining-zone-nine |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Wikipedia hosted an editathon for Zone 9 bloggers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/wikipedia-edit-thon-zone-9-bloggers-great-way-raise-awareness |title=A Wikipedia Edit-a-thon for the Zone 9 Bloggers, A Great Way to Raise Awareness |publisher=EFF |last=Glaser |first=April |date=3 October 2014 |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> On [[Human Rights Day]], Global Voices led a campaign to raise awareness about his imprisonment.<ref>{{cite news| title=Break the Silence Campaign |url=http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/12/10/break-the-silence-campaign-for-jailed-human-rights-activists/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=Global Voices Online | date=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Romper el silencio: Campaña por activistas de derechos humanos encarcelados|url=https://es.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/12/10/romper-el-silencio-campana-por-activistas-de-derechos-humanos-encarcelados/|access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=Global Voices Online |date=10 December 2014 |language=es |trans-title=Breaking the Silence: Campaign for Jailed Human Rights Activists}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=On Human Rights Day, We Remember Jailed Human Rights Defenders |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/12/human-rights-day-we-remember-jailed-human-rights-defenders |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=10 December 2014}}</ref>

In March 2015, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] hosted a [[Wikipedia:Meetup/San Francisco/FreeBassel Day 2015|Wikipedia edit-a-thon]] for #FREEBASSELDAY.<ref>{{cite news| title= Wikipedia Edit-a-thon: FreeBassel Day 2015 |url=https://www.eff.org/event/wikipedia-edit-thon-freebassel-day-2015|access-date=15 March 2015 |publisher=EFF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= #FreeBassel Day 2015: Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at EFF |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/45042 |access-date=15 March 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons| date=5 March 2015}}</ref> In addition, the Creative Commons Arab World organized a virtual Arabic Wikipedia edit-a-thon to translate and expand pages related to Khartabil and his interests.<ref>{{cite news|title=This is not a protest! Edit for #FreeBassel |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/45165|access-date=15 March 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons| date=11 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Meetup/San Francisco/FREEBASSEL DAY 2015 Announcement |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/2015/03/15/free-bassel-day-2015-wikipedia/ |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=Freebassel |date=15 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050344/http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/2015/03/15/free-bassel-day-2015-wikipedia/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was later profiled<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/offline/bassel-khartabil|title=Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil |date=2014-09-29}}</ref> with the launch<ref name="offlinelaunch">{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/09/taken-offline-years-prison-love-technology |date=24 September 2015 |author=Danny O'Brien |title=Taken Offline: Years in Prison for a Love of Technology}}</ref> of the EFF's Offline<ref>{{citeCite web|url=https://www.eff.org/offline|title=Offline: Imprisoned Bloggers and Technologists|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|accessdate=15 December 2023}}</ref> project, "sharing the stories of imprisoned technologists and technology users."<ref name="offlinelaunch"/>

In 2017, the #FREEBASSEL campaign asked supporters to do five public acts in honor of Khartabil, to be posted on social media.<ref name="FreeBasselFiveYears">{{Cite web|url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/freebasselday/2017/03/09/freebassel5years/ |title=#FREEBASSEL5DAYS 5 PUBLIC ACTS PLEDGE ASKED FOR 15 MARCH 2017|year=2017|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014080755/http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/freebasselday/2017/03/09/freebassel5years/|archive-date=14 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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On 12 September 2015, [[Jaysh al-Islam]] shelled and stormed the prison, taking control of two buildings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Sep-12/314959-11-dead-in-rebel-shelling-on-damascus-activists.ashx|title=11 dead in rebel shelling on Damascus: activists|publisher=The Daily Star|date=12 September 2015|access-date=12 September 2015|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415201534/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Sep-12/314959-11-dead-in-rebel-shelling-on-damascus-activists.ashx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/rebels-storm-syrias-largest-prison-near-damascus-monitor-125954952.html |title=Rebels storm Syria's largest prison near Damascus: monitor |date=11 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005115628/https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/rebels-storm-syrias-largest-prison-near-damascus-monitor-125954952.html |archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> Until early October Khartabil was still in Adra Prison in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria.<ref name="alkarama-1763" /> By 3 October, military police took him from his cell in Adra with a 'top secret' sealed order from the Military Field Court.<ref>[https://advox.globalvoices.org/2017/06/06/artists-and-writers-celebrate-the-work-of-missing-syrian-developer-bassel-safadi/ Artists and Writers Celebrate the Work of Missing Syrian Developer Bassel Safadi], Global Voices. 5 June 2017</ref> He was transferred to an unknown location.<ref name="transfer">{{cite web|date=3 October 2015|title=WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP TO #FREEBASSEL|url=http://mediaoriente.com/2015/10/03/we-need-everybodys-help-to-freebassel/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003190157/http://mediaoriente.com/2015/10/03/we-need-everybodys-help-to-freebassel/|archive-date=3 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="transfergv">{{cite web|author=Amira Al Hussaini|date=3 October 2015|title=Fears for Imprisoned Syrian Blogger Bassel Khartabil, Transferred to an Unknown Location|url=https://globalvoices.org/2015/10/03/free-bassel-fears-for-imprisoned-syrian-palestinian-blogger-bassel-khartabil-after-he-was-moved-to-an-unknown-location/|publisher=Global Voices}}</ref>

On 6 October, [[Amnesty International]] released a new report on Khartabil's status.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/MDE24/2603/2015/en/|title=SYRIA: FURTHER INFORMATION: ACTIVIST MOVED FROM PRISON, RISKS TORTURE: BASSEL KHARTABIL|publisher=Amnesty International|date=6 October 2015}}</ref> A day later, [[Human Rights Watch]] and 30 other human rights organizations issued a letter demanding that Khartabil's whereabouts be disclosed.<ref name="hrwdisclose" /> On 17 October, [[Creative Commons]] Board of Directors approved a resolution calling for Khartabil's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/46253|title=Creative Commons Board of Directors approves resolution calling for Bassel Khartabil release|work=Creative Commons|date=2015-10-17}}</ref> On 21 October, the [[New Palmyra]] project was launched to carry on his 3D modeling work and other creative uses of data about Palmyra.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = A Jailed Activist's 3-D Models Could Save Syria's History From ISIS|url = https://www.wired.com/2015/10/jailed-activist-bassel-khartabil-3d-models-could-save-syrian-history-from-isis/|magazine = WIRED|access-date =21 October 2015|date = 2015-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = New Palmyra|url = http://newpalmyra.org|website = newpalmyra.org|access-date =21 October 2015}}</ref> A day later, the [[MIT Media Lab]] offered Khartabil a position of research scientist at the [[Center for Civic Media]] to work with [[Ethan Zuckerman]] on projects to make Syria's history available to the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title = MIT Media Lab offers research position to Bassel Khartabil|url = https://news.mit.edu/2015/mit-media-lab-offers-research-position-bassel-khartabil-1022|website = MIT News| date=22 October 2015 |access-date =22 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = MIT Media Lab reaches out to jailed Syrian activist with research position in Center for Civic Media - Joi Ito's Web|url = http://joi.ito.com/weblog/2015/10/22/mit-media-lab-r.html|website = joi.ito.com|access-date =22 October 2015}}</ref> On 9 November, an anthology of essays in Khartabil's honor, entitled ''The Cost of Freedom: A Collective Inquiry'', was released under a [[Creative Commons]] [[public domain]] license.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ruehling|first1=Barbara|title=Cost of Freedom Book to be released!|url=http://www.booksprints.net/2015/11/cost-of-freedom-book-to-be-released/|publisher=BookSprints.net|access-date=10 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061730/http://www.booksprints.net/2015/11/cost-of-freedom-book-to-be-released/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cost of Freedom: A Collective Inquiry|url=http://costoffreedom.cc/|publisher=CostofFreedom.cc|access-date=10 November 2015|format=PDF and EPUB downloads|date=9 November 2015}}</ref> Two days afterward, unconfirmed rumors surfaced that Khartabil had been sentenced to death.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2015-11-12|title=IGF 2015 Flyer on Bassel Khartabil|url=https://www.eff.org/document/igf-2015-flyer-bassel-khartabil|access-date=15 November 2015|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|publisher=eff.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2015-11-13|title=#FreeBassel: Death Sentence Rumored for Syrian Web Developer|url=https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/|access-date=15 November 2015|website=Global Voices}}</ref>

In August 2017, Khartabil's wife and friends reported they had seen a copy of official documents confirming he had been executed after his transfer from Adra prison in 2015.<ref name="JWF-2017-08">{{cite web|date=1 August 2017|title=Horrific: Reports that Bassel Khartabil Has Been Executed in Syria|url=http://jimmywalesfoundation.org/horrific-reports-that-bassel-khartabil-has-been-executed-in-syria/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802000234/http://jimmywalesfoundation.org/horrific-reports-that-bassel-khartabil-has-been-executed-in-syria/|archive-date=2 August 2017|access-date=1 August 2017|website=Jimmy Wales Foundation}}</ref>

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[[Category:Creative Commons]]

[[Category:Executed Syrian people]]

[[Category:Syrian dissidents]]

[[Category:Political prisoners in Syria]]