Syrian teenage blogger accused of spying for a foreign country

[News_Editor]

Syrian teenage blogger accused of spying for a foreign country

2010-10-05 04:11:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) – A Syrian official on Monday confirmed that a teenage blogger was accused of spying for a foreign country after pro-Palestine writing, media reports said.

Tal al-Mallohi, 19, was arrested last December and is currently imprisoned at Douma women's prison near Damascus. The young woman wrote a blog about Palestinian sufferings through poetry and social commentary.

"She was detained on the accusation of spying for a foreign country. Her spying led to an attack against a Syrian army officer by the agents of this foreign country," a Syrian official said.

Al-Mallohi was detained for nine months without charges. Her family was allowed to visit her last week, for the first time since her arrest. Her father only declared that she is in good health.

Syrian authorities have not released any more details about the 19-year-old blogger. The alleged attack against the Syrian army officer was not detailed nor the country for which al-Mallohi was spying for.

Last December, al-Mallohi, a student, was summoned for interrogation. Authorities seized her computer, CDs, books and other belongings. Human Rights Watch said that her detention was another example of the typical, cruel and arbitrary behavior of Syria.

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