Bassel Khartabil: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Free culture and democracy activist, Syrian political prisoner}}

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|death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|10|3|1981|5|22|df=y}}<ref name=bbc20170802>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40795739 |title=Bassel Khartabil: Syrian internet freedom activist 'executed' |work=BBC News |date=2 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/08/syria-extrajudicial-execution-of-bassel-khartabil-a-grim-reminder-of-syrian-prison-horrors/ |title=Syria: Extrajudicial execution of Bassel Khartabil a grim reminder of Syrian prison horrors |work=Amnesty International |date=2 August 2017}}</ref>

|death_place = [[Adra Prison]], Syria

|spouse = {{marriage|[[Noura Ghazi]]|2013~~|2015~~}}

~~|nationality = [[Syrian people|Syrian]]~~

|known_for = [[Aiki Framework]], [[Openclipart]], [[Open Font Library]], [[Fabricatorz]], [[Mozilla]], [[Creative Commons]]

|education =

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|employer =

|occupation = [[Software engineer]]

~~|religion =~~

|awards = [[Index on Censorship]] 2013 Digital Freedom Award

|signature = Signed-by-Bassel.svg

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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" />

'''Bassel Khartabil''' ({{lang-ar|باسل خرطبيل}}), also known as '''Bassel Safadi''' ({{lang-ar|باسل صفدي}}), (22 May 1981, [[Damascus]] – 3 October 2015) was a Palestinian Syrian [[open-source model|open-source]] [[software developer]]. On 15 March 2012, the one-year anniversary of the [[Civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian uprising]], he was detained by the Syrian government at [[Adra Prison]] in [[Damascus]].<ref>{{cite news|title=#FREEBASSEL: a campaign to free Bassel Khartabil from Syrian jail|url=http://www.albawaba.com/blog_roundup/freebassel-kharatable-syria-432588|accessdate=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Bawaba|date=4 July 2012}}</ref> Between then and 3 October 2015, he had been transferred to an unknown location, probably to be judged by a military court.<ref name="transfer">{{cite web|url=http://mediaoriente.com/2015/10/03/we-need-everybodys-help-to-freebassel/|title=WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP TO #FREEBASSEL|date=3 October 2015 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003190157/http://mediaoriente.com/2015/10/03/we-need-everybodys-help-to-freebassel/|archivedate=3 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="transfergv">{{cite web|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/|title=Fears for Imprisoned Syrian Blogger Bassel Khartabil, Transferred to an Unknown Location|date=3 October 2015|publisher=Global Voices|author=Amira Al Hussaini}}</ref> On 7 October 2015, [[Human Rights Watch]] and 30 other human rights organizations issued a letter demanding that Khartabil's whereabouts be disclosed.<ref name="hrwdisclose">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/10/07/syria-disclose-whereabouts-detained-freedom-expression-advocate|title=Syria: Disclose Whereabouts of Detained Freedom of Expression Advocate|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=7 October 2015}}</ref> On 11 November 2015, rumors surfaced that Khartabil had been secretly sentenced to death.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = IGF 2015 Flyer on Bassel Khartabil|url = https://www.eff.org/document/igf-2015-flyer-bassel-khartabil|website = Electronic Frontier Foundation|publisher = eff.org |accessdate =15 November 2015|date = 2015-11-12}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = #FreeBassel: Death Sentence Rumored for Syrian Web Developer|url = https://globalvoices.org/2015/11/13/freebassel-death-sentence-rumored-for-syrian-web-developer/|website = Global Voices|accessdate =15 November 2015|date = 2015-11-13}}</ref> In August 2017, his wife made public<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/nouranoura81/posts/1405322339548963|title=Noura Ghazi Safadi|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|accessdate=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/08/02/world/middleeast/ap-ml-syria-software-pioneer-executed-.html|title=Widow Confirms Open Software Pioneer Was Executed in Syria|last=The Associated Press|date=2 August 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=13 August 2017 |language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> that Khartabil had been executed by the Syrian government shortly after his disappearance in 2015.<ref name="JWF-2017-08">{{cite web|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/|website=Jimmy Wales Foundation|accessdate=1 August 2017|date=1 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="The Independent 2017">{{cite web | title=One of Syria's most famous activists has been executed in prison, widow confirms | website=The Independent | date=2 August 2017 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/bassel-khartabil-safadi-executed-syria-activist-dead-prison-widow-confirms-democracy-adra-damascus-a7872771.html | accessdate=2 August 2017}}</ref>

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= ~~http~~https://wiki.hackerspaces.org~~/wiki~~/Aiki_lab |title=Aiki lab~~|publisher=~~}}</ref> and was CTO of Al-Aous,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-aous.com/|title=الأوس للنشر|author=الأوس للنشر~~|publisher=~~|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>{{~~cite~~Cite web|url=~~http~~https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Syria|title=Syria - Creative Commons|~~publisher~~website=wiki.creativecommons.org|accessdate=15 December 2023}}</ref> and has contributed to [[Mozilla]] [[Firefox]], [[Wikipedia]], [[Openclipart]], [[Fabricatorz]], and [[Sharism]].<ref>{{~~cite~~Cite web |url=http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/blogger/bassel-safadi-khartabil|title=Threatened Voices /| Bloggers /| Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil|~~url~~website=~~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|~~accessdate~~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|~~last~~last1=Forte|~~first~~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|~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

~~On February 7,~~In 2018, the Bassel Khartabil Free Culture Fellowship was announced in ~~Bassel~~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, ~~including~~and additional support, to ~~outstanding~~ individuals developing open culture in their communities. The fellowship was created by Creative Commons, Fabricatorz Foundation, [[Jimmy Wales Foundation]], Mozilla, [[NEWPALMYRA | #NEWPALMYRA]], and [[Wikimedia]].

==~~Detention~~Personal life==

Khartabil was arrested a few days before his marriage contract to [[Noura Ghazi]], a lawyer and human rights activist, was to be signed. The contract was finalized later that year, while Khartabil was in prison. The couple first met in [[Douma, Syria|Douma]] in April 2011 after coming back from a demonstration.<ref>{{cite news| title= Stories from the Syrian Revolution: Love in the Time of Revolution is a Revolution|url=http://freesyriantranslators.net/2013/02/14/stories-from-the-syrian-revolution-love-in-the-time-of-revolution-is-a-revolution/|~~accessdate~~access-date=15 March 2014 |publisher=Free Syrian Translators |date=1 September 2013}}</ref>▼

On Valentine's Day 2015, ~~Noura~~Ghazi made public a love letter she wrote ~~Bassel~~to Khartabil, where she reflects on what has taken place in Syria in the time he had been imprisoned:▼

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 |accessdate=25 June 2015 |publisher=Alkarama |date=23 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625170229/http://en.alkarama.org/1763-syria-un-calls-for-the-release-of-freedom-of-speech-advocate-bassel-khartabil |archivedate=25 June 2015}}</ref> That day marked the one-year anniversary of the 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|accessdate=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=15 March 2012}}</ref>▼

{{Quote|text=Bassel, I am very afraid, I am afraid about the country that is being slaughtered, divided, bleeding, being destroyed..▼

Khartabil was interrogated and allegedly tortured for five days by Military Branch 215. 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" />▼

Ouch Bassel, I am very afraid that our dream is changing from seeing ourselves being the generation freeing their country to the one witnessing its destruction. Ouch Bassel, I am very afraid …|sign=[[Noura Ghazi]]|source=''A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil''<ref>{{cite news| title= A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/02/23/a-love-letter-to-jailed-syrian-palestinian-bassel-khartabil/|~~accessdate~~access-date=15 March 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=23 February 2015}}</ref>}}▼

==Awards==▼

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|accessdate=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|accessdate=9 April 2014 |publisher=European Parliament |date=18 March 2014}}</ref>▼

[[File:Bassel Khartabil Safadi باسل خرطبيل الصفدي.svg|thumb|WPAP Art by Miald Amin]]▼

For its 2012 list of Top Global Thinkers, ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' named Khartabil together with [[Rima Dali]] as #19 for "insisting, against all odds, on a peaceful Syrian revolution."<ref>{{cite news| title= The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers: 19 RIMA DALI, BASSEL KHARTABIL|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/11/26/the-fp-top-100-global-thinkers/|~~accessdate~~access-date=9 December 2014 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012}}</ref>▼

On 21 March 2013 Khartabil was awarded [[Index on Censorship]]'s Digital Freedom Award.<ref>{{cite news| title= Imprisoned internet pioneer Bassel Khartabil wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/37612|~~accessdate~~access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=21 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bassel Khartabil Wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award |url=https://fabricatorz.com/2013/03/bassel-khartabil-wins-index-on-censorship-digital-freedom-award/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Fabricatorz |date=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead |~~archiveurl~~archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510015131/http://www.fabricatorz.com/2013/03/bassel-khartabil-wins-index-on-censorship-digital-freedom-award/ |~~archivedate~~archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> Although still detained at the time in [[Adra Prison]], ~~Bassel~~Khartabil was able to communicate his gratitude through [[Dana Trometer]] and Jon Phillips receiving the award on his behalf, wherein he paid "respect to all the victims of the struggle for freedom of speech, and, especially for those non-violent youths who refused to carry arms and deserve all the credit for this award."<ref>{{cite news| title= Winners – Index Awards 2013|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/03/winners-index-awards-2013/|~~accessdate~~access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Index on Censorship |date=21 March 2013}}</ref>▼

On 21 April 2015, the [[Working Group on Arbitrary Detention|United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (WGAD) adopted an Opinion on Khartabil's case, calling his detention "arbitrary" and asking for his immediate release.<ref name="alkarama-1763"/><ref>{{cite news| title=Netizen Report: U.K. Spied on Human Rights Organizations in Egypt, South Africa |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/06/24/netizen_report_u_k_spied_on_human_rights_organizations_in_egypt_south_africa.html |accessdate=25 June 2015 |publisher=Slate |date=24 June 2015}}</ref> The WGAD concluded that Kharbatil's detention violated Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] (ICCPR), which Syria ratified in 1969.▼

== Imprisonment ~~and public outcry~~ ==▼

~~==Personal life==~~

▲Khartabil was arrested a few days before his marriage contract to [[Noura Ghazi]], a lawyer and human rights activist, was to be signed. The contract was finalized later that year, while Khartabil was in prison. The couple first met in [[Douma, Syria|Douma]] in April 2011 after coming back from a demonstration.<ref>{{cite news| title= Stories from the Syrian Revolution: Love in the Time of Revolution is a Revolution|url=http://freesyriantranslators.net/2013/02/14/stories-from-the-syrian-revolution-love-in-the-time-of-revolution-is-a-revolution/|accessdate=15 March 2014 |publisher=Free Syrian Translators |date=1 September 2013}}</ref>

▲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 |~~accessdate~~access-date=25 June 2015 |publisher=Alkarama |date=23 June 2015 |url-status=dead |~~archiveurl~~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 |~~archivedate~~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|~~accessdate~~access-date=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=15 March 2012}}</ref>

▲On Valentine's Day 2015, Noura made public a love letter she wrote Bassel where she reflects on what has taken place in Syria in the time he had been imprisoned:

▲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" />

▲{{Quote|text=Bassel, I am very afraid, I am afraid about the country that is being slaughtered, divided, bleeding, being destroyed..

▲Ouch Bassel, I am very afraid that our dream is changing from seeing ourselves being the generation freeing their country to the one witnessing its destruction. Ouch Bassel, I am very afraid …|sign=[[Noura Ghazi]]|source=''A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil''<ref>{{cite news| title= A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/02/23/a-love-letter-to-jailed-syrian-palestinian-bassel-khartabil/|accessdate=15 March 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=23 February 2015}}</ref>}}

▲==Awards==

▲[[File:Bassel Khartabil Safadi باسل خرطبيل الصفدي.svg|thumb|WPAP Art by Miald Amin]]

▲For its 2012 list of Top Global Thinkers, ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' named Khartabil together with [[Rima Dali]] as #19 for "insisting, against all odds, on a peaceful Syrian revolution."<ref>{{cite news| title= The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers: 19 RIMA DALI, BASSEL KHARTABIL|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/11/26/the-fp-top-100-global-thinkers/|accessdate=9 December 2014 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

▲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|~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~access-date=9 April 2014 |publisher=European Parliament |date=18 March 2014}}</ref>

▲On 21 March 2013 Khartabil was awarded [[Index on Censorship]]'s Digital Freedom Award.<ref>{{cite news| title= Imprisoned internet pioneer Bassel Khartabil wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/37612|accessdate=21 March 2013 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=21 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bassel Khartabil Wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award |url=https://fabricatorz.com/2013/03/bassel-khartabil-wins-index-on-censorship-digital-freedom-award/ |accessdate=21 March 2013 |publisher=Fabricatorz |date=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510015131/http://www.fabricatorz.com/2013/03/bassel-khartabil-wins-index-on-censorship-digital-freedom-award/ |archivedate=10 May 2013}}</ref> Although still detained at the time in [[Adra Prison]], Bassel was able to communicate his gratitude through [[Dana Trometer]] and Jon Phillips receiving the award on his behalf, wherein he paid "respect to all the victims of the struggle for freedom of speech, and, especially for those non-violent youths who refused to carry arms and deserve all the credit for this award."<ref>{{cite news| title= Winners – Index Awards 2013|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/03/winners-index-awards-2013/|accessdate=21 March 2013 |publisher=Index on Censorship |date=21 March 2013}}</ref>

▲On 21 April 2015, the [[Working Group on Arbitrary Detention|United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (WGAD) adopted an ~~Opinion~~opinion on Khartabil's case, calling his detention "[[Arbitrary detention|arbitrary]]" and asking for his immediate release.<ref name="alkarama-1763"/><ref>{{cite news| title=Netizen Report: U.K. Spied on Human Rights Organizations in Egypt, South Africa |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/06/24/netizen_report_u_k_spied_on_human_rights_organizations_in_egypt_south_africa.html |~~accessdate~~access-date=25 June 2015 |publisher=Slate |date=24 June 2015}}</ref> The WGAD concluded that Kharbatil's detention violated Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] (ICCPR), which Syria ratified in 1969.

▲== Imprisonment and public outcry ==

=== Prison paintings ===

Khartabil was arrested and put in prison on 15 March 2012. He was moved about from one prison to another, including a high-security military prison. At times he was able to get letters out to friends and family while in Adra Prison, but at other times he was allegedly tortured and kept in confinement, without contact. In 2015, he was reportedly executed, but this was not confirmed until 2017.

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

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."

File:Uncertain-Dream-Bassel-6-15-15.jpg|June 15, 2015, Damascus Central Jail "What is this dream I see every night? A web? Black lines? A tunnel? Or some memories from my childhood?

File:Uneasiness-Bassel-7-11-15.jpg|July 11, 2015, Damascus Central Jail "an uneasy or anxious feeling..."

</gallery>

=== #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|~~accessdate~~access-date=5 July 2012|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=4 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Galperin|first=Eva|~~author1link~~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|~~accessdate~~access-date=5 July 2012|date=2012-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|~~last~~last1=Wang|~~first~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In December, he was moved to a military prison to await a military trial.<ref>{{cite news| title=Open Source Developer Bassel Khartabil Moved to Syrian Military Prison |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/12/open-source-software-developer-bassel-khartabil-moved-syrian-military-prison |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Concerns over fate of Syrian prisoner |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/20121217133619491813.html |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=20 December 2012 |last=Randaree |first=Bilal}}</ref> In response, a fasting campaign was launched to raise awareness about Khartabil's deteriorating incarceration situation.<ref>{{cite news| title=#FastforBassel Campaign Launched for Syrian Netizen Facing Military Trial |url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/12/17/fastforbassel-campaign-launched-for-syrian-netizen-facing-military-trial/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=17 December 2012 |last=Al Hussaini |first=Amira}}</ref> On 25 January 2013, reports circulated about the pending trial and fears of his execution.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fears that Syria may execute jailed software activist |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/01/25/fears_that_syria_may_execute_jailed_software_activist.html |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |work=The Toronto Star |last=Izi |first=Touria |date=25 March 2013}}</ref> On 15 March<ref>{{cite news|title=The FreeBasselDay Event|url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/2013/03/15/free-bassel-day-event/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=15 March 2014 |publisher=freebassel.org |date=18 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126190433/http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/2013/03/15/free-bassel-day-event/ |archive-date=26 November 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> the #FREEBASSEL project organized a #FREEBASSELDAY campaign with Creative Commons, Mozilla, and other community leaders, leading to public artworks, meetups, press, and videos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Campaign Launched to Bring Home Loved and Celebrated Internet Volunteer Detained in Syria |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign |publisher=FreeBassel.org |~~accessdate~~access-date=15 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217053637/http://freebassel.org/campaign/ |archive-date=17 February 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Free Bassel, Free Culture |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-m-casserly-phd/free-bassel-free-culture_b_2867250.html |~~accessdate~~access-date=18 March 2013 |~~publisher~~work=The Huffington Post |date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=#FreeBassel: One Year Later, Syrian Netizen Remains in Prison |url=http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2013/03/15/freebassel-one-year-later-syrian-netizen-remains-in-prison/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=18 March 2013 |publisher=Global Voices Online |date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Family of Syria Internet guru appeals for EU help |url=http://euobserver.com/foreign/119429 |~~accessdate~~access-date=18 March 2013 |work=The EU Observer |date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= #freebassel: Syrischer Netzaktivist sitzt seit einem Jahr im Gefängnis |url=https://netzpolitik.org/2013/freebassel-syrischer-netzaktivist-sitzt-seit-einem-jahr-im-gefangnis/ |~~accessdate~~access-date=18 March 2013 |publisher=Netzpolitik |date=15 March 2013 |language=de |trans-title=Syrian internet activist has been in prison for a year}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Seit einem Jahr in Hafts |url=http://www.taz.de/Netzaktivist-in-Syrien/!112902/|~~accessdate~~access-date=18 March 2013 |publisher=Taz |date=15 March 2013 |language=de |trans-title=In Custody for a Year}}</ref>

[[File:Examples of the Dutch FREEBASSEL campaign.jpg|thumb|Poster of the #FREEBASSEL campaign|left]]

On 22 May, commemorating Khartabil's 32nd birthday—the second time he spent a birthday in prison as well as the 799th day of the [[Syrian civil war|Syrian conflict]]—the Index on Censorship,<ref>{{cite web|title=Birthday wishes for Bassel Khartabil|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/05/birthday-wishes-for-bassel-khartabil/|publisher=Index on Censorship|~~accessdate~~access-date=24 May 2013|date=2013-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Today is Bassel's second birthday in prison|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/05/happy-birthday-bassel-khartabil/|publisher=Index on Censorship|~~accessdate~~access-date=24 May 2013|date=2013-05-22}}</ref> Creative Commons,<ref>{{cite web|last=Harmon|first=Elliot|title=Bassel Khartabil's Second Birthday in Prison|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/38347|publisher=Creative Commons|~~accessdate~~access-date=24 May 2013|date=2013-05-22}}</ref> and the #FREEBASSEL campaign launched Project Sunlight,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etherpad.mozilla.org/freebassel|title=MoPad: freebassel|access-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313105415/https://etherpad.mozilla.org/freebassel|archive-date=13 March 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> to uncover more information about Khartabil's condition and location.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fabricatorz.com/2013/05/freebassel-sunlight-celebrate-bassels-birthday-today-may-22-2013/|title=FREEBASSEL SUNLIGHT: Celebrate Bassel's Birthday|last=Phillips|first=Jon|publisher=Fabricatorz|access-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105125518/http://fabricatorz.com/2013/05/freebassel-sunlight-celebrate-bassels-birthday-today-may-22-2013/|archive-date=5 January 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His mother wrote, "I just want him free, I pray for him to be free and I pray for all his friends who believe and work on Bassel's freedom."<ref>{{cite news| title=Bassel Khartabil's Second Birthday in Prison |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/38347 |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=22 May 2013}}</ref>

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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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]]

[[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 |~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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/|~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~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 |~~accessdate~~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 ~~Bassel~~Khartabil and his interests.<ref>{{cite news|title=This is not a protest! Edit for #FreeBassel |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/45165|~~accessdate~~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/ |~~accessdate~~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>{{~~cite~~Cite 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>

=== Transfer and execution ===

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 |~~archiveurl~~archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005115628/https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/rebels-storm-syrias-largest-prison-near-damascus-monitor-125954952.html |~~archivedate~~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 ~~journal~~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/|~~journal~~magazine = WIRED|~~accessdate~~access-date =21 October 2015|date = 2015-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = New Palmyra|url = http://newpalmyra.org|website = newpalmyra.org|~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~ 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|~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~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|~~accessdate~~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>

=== Response ===

The [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/08/bassel-khartabil-memoriam|title=Bassel Khartabil, In Memoriam|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=11 August 2017 |~~accessdate~~access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> and the [[Wikimedia Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.wikimedia.org/2017/08/03/bassel-khartabil/|title=Wikimedia Foundation mourns the loss of Bassel Khartabil, Syrian Wikimedian and global open culture advocate|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|date=3 August 2017|~~accessdate~~access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> as well as [[Global Voices Online|Global Voices]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalvoices.org/2017/08/01/global-voices-honors-the-life-of-open-web-activist-bassel-khartabil-executed-by-the-syrian-regime/|title=Global Voices Honors the Life of Open Web Activist Bassel Khartabil, Executed by the Syrian Regime · Global Voices|last=Hamadeh|first=Talal|date=1 August 2017|website=Global Voices|~~accessdate~~access-date=6 August 2017}}</ref> released statements mourning his loss.

Creative Commons announced the creation of the ''Bassel Khartabil Memorial Fund'', to support projects in line with his ideas and work throughout his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://creativecommons.org/2017/08/03/announcing-bassel-khartabil-memorial-fund/|title=Announcing the Bassel Khartabil Memorial Fund|publisher=Creative Commons|date=3 August 2017|~~accessdate~~access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> On 11 August, the [[Mozilla Foundation]] announced the creation of the ''Bassel Khartabil Free Culture Fellowship'', organized for an initial period of three years by Mozilla, Wikimedia Foundation, Creative Commons, the [[Jimmy Wales Foundation]], #NEWPALMYRA and other groups. It is aimed at supporting individuals developing free culture, particularly under adverse circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2017/08/11/honoring-friend-bassel-announcing-bassel-khartabil-free-culture-fellowship/|title= Honoring Our Friend Bassel: Announcing the Bassel Khartabil Free Culture Fellowship|publisher=The Mozilla Blog|date=11 August 2017|~~accessdate~~access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"

Line 108 ⟶ 113:

| 2020

| Dr. Tarek Loubani and glia.org

| Combat [[COVID-19]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://basselkhartabil.org/2020/04/02/second-fellowship-awarded.html|date=2 April 2020|title=Bassel Khartabil Fellowship Awarded to Dr. Tarek Loubani and Glia to Combat COVID-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224151659/https://basselkhartabil.org/2018/04/15/first-fellowship-awarded.html|archive-date=2022-12-24|url-status=live}}></ref>

| 2018

| Majd Al-shihabi

| projects Palestine Open Maps and MASRAD:platform, an oral history archive<ref>{{cite web|url=https://basselkhartabil.org/2018/04/15/first-fellowship-awarded.html|title=The first Bassel Khartabil Fellowship Awarded to Majd Al-shihabi|date=15 April 2018|archive-date=2022-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224151643/https://basselkhartabil.org/2020/04/02/second-fellowship-awarded.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Line 128 ⟶ 133:

=== Writing and art ===

Khartabil wrote hundreds of letters while in prison, including some while he was in a high-security military prison, where writing was prohibited. He also produced some paintings and poetry. For a short time, he published some of his writing to an anonymous prison blog<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meinsyrianjail.wordpress.com|title=meinsyrianjail|website=meinsyrianjail|language=en-US|~~accessdate~~access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> and [[Twitter]] account, via a friend.

<blockquote>"Jail is not walls, not the executioner and guards. It is the hidden fear in our hearts that makes us prisoners."</blockquote>

Line 144 ⟶ 149:

* [http://freebassel.org/ #FREEBASSEL]

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xOqz7CW0g4 Interview with Bassel about the role of Creative Commons in the Arab world (in Arabic)]

* [http://www.talkinganthropology.com/2011/01/28/ta24-arabic-hackerspaces/ Podcast Interview with Bassel and Jon Phillips on hackerspaces and making culture in the Arab world] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305105047/http://www.talkinganthropology.com/podpress_trac/web/647/0/TA24-Arabic_Hackerspaces.mp3 |date=5 March 2014 }}

* [https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/12/250541.htm Statement by US Secretary of State, John Kerry]

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[[Category:Copyright activists]]

[[Category:People from Damascus]]

[[Category:People of the Syrian ~~Civil~~civil ~~War~~war]]

[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Syria]]

[[Category:Syrian democracy activists]]

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[[Category:Mozilla developers]]

[[Category:Creative Commons]]

[[Category:Executed Syrian people]]

[[Category:Syrian dissidents]]

[[Category:Political prisoners in Syria]]