Bassel Khartabil#Response

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 in April 2011 after coming back from a demonstration.{{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/|access-date=15 March 2014 |publisher=Free Syrian Translators |date=1 September 2013}}

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

{{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{{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/|access-date=15 March 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=23 February 2015}}}}

His father was a scholar who wrote about atheism{{cite web | url=https://basselkhartabil.org/jamil/ | title=Jamil Khartabil }} and Bassel himself was an atheist.https://www.cbc.ca/embed/index.html?preview=0&embed_type=customhtml&content_id=1.4236190&position=0&api=prod

File:Bassel Khartabil Safadi باسل خرطبيل الصفدي.svg

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."{{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/|access-date=9 December 2014 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012}}

On 21 March 2013, Khartabil was awarded Index on Censorship's Digital Freedom Award.{{cite news| title= Imprisoned internet pioneer Bassel Khartabil wins Index on Censorship Digital Freedom Award|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/37612|access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=21 March 2013}}{{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/ |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Fabricatorz |date=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510015131/http://www.fabricatorz.com/2013/03/bassel-khartabil-wins-index-on-censorship-digital-freedom-award/ |archive-date=10 May 2013}} Although still detained at the time in Adra Prison, 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."{{cite news| title= Winners – Index Awards 2013|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/03/winners-index-awards-2013/|access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Index on Censorship |date=21 March 2013}}

Khartabil was chief technology officer (CTO) and co-founder of collaborative research company Aiki Lab, which produced the web programming framework Aiki Framework. This was used to let multiple people collaborate on building other projects such as the sites for Openclipart and the Open Font Library. He also contributed to the Fabricatorz project and the Sharism movement.{{Cite web |title=Threatened Voices | Bloggers | Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil |url=http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/blogger/bassel-safadi-khartabil |accessdate=15 December 2023 |website=threatened.globalvoicesonline.org}}

He also served as the CTO of Al-Aous, a publishing and research institution dedicated to archaeological sciences and arts in Syria. His last works included an open, 3D virtual reconstruction of the ancient city of Palmyra, with real time visualization of the models. An international community came together to contribute to the Palmyra project.

He was the country project lead and public affiliate for Creative Commons Syria, and contributed to Mozilla Firefox and Wikipedia. He is credited with opening up the Internet in Syria and working to improve access to knowledge across the country. It is believed that this work is what led to his later improsonment.

On 15 March 2012, Khartabil was detained amid arrests in the Mazzeh district of Damascus by Military Security Branch 215.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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 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.

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."{{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}} 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."{{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}}

On 21 April 2015, the 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.{{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 |access-date=25 June 2015 |publisher=Slate |date=24 June 2015}} 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.

While Khartabil was in prison he made paintings, four of which were 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..."

After his detention became widely known in early July 2012, a global campaign was launched calling for his immediate release.{{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}}{{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=4 July 2012}}{{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}} Notable Internet companies like Mozilla,{{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}}{{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}} Wikipedia, Global Voices,{{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}} EFF{{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 }} and Creative Commons{{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}}{{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 }} wrote letters to the Syrian government urging his immediate release. Notable individuals including Lawrence Lessig,{{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}} Joi Ito,{{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}}{{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}} Mitchell Baker,{{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}} Jillian York,{{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}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2012/07/05/contributor-imprisoned-in-syria|title=Contributor Imprisoned in Syria|work=lizardwrangler.com}} Mohamed Nanabhay{{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}} and Barry Threw{{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}} wrote public letters of support. Al Jazeera,{{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}} Framablog,{{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}} and Hacker News{{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}} wrote about the effort.

In October 2012, Amnesty International released a document with information suggesting that Khartabil has been ill-treated and even tortured.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} On 26 November, he was named one of the top 100 global thinkers by Foreign Policy for his resistance.{{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}}

In December, he was moved to a military prison to await a military trial.{{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 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=12 December 2012}}{{cite news| title=Concerns over fate of Syrian prisoner |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/20121217133619491813.html |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=20 December 2012 |last=Randaree |first=Bilal}} In response, a fasting campaign was launched to raise awareness about Khartabil's deteriorating incarceration situation.{{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/ |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Global Voices |date=17 December 2012 |last=Al Hussaini |first=Amira}} On 25 January 2013, reports circulated about the pending trial and fears of his execution.{{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 |access-date=3 April 2015 |work=The Toronto Star |last=Izi |first=Touria |date=25 March 2013}} On 15 March{{cite news|title=The FreeBasselDay Event|url=http://freebassel.org/campaign/events/2013/03/15/free-bassel-day-event/ |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 }} the #FREEBASSEL project organized a #FREEBASSELDAY campaign with Creative Commons, Mozilla, and other community leaders, leading to public artworks, meetups, press, and videos.{{cite web|title=Campaign Launched to Bring Home Loved and Celebrated Internet Volunteer Detained in Syria |url=http://freebassel.org/campaign |publisher=FreeBassel.org |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 }}{{cite news|title=Free Bassel, Free Culture |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-m-casserly-phd/free-bassel-free-culture_b_2867250.html |access-date=18 March 2013 |work=The Huffington Post |date=15 March 2013}}{{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/ |access-date=18 March 2013 |publisher=Global Voices Online |date=15 March 2013}}{{cite news|title=Family of Syria Internet guru appeals for EU help |url=http://euobserver.com/foreign/119429 |access-date=18 March 2013 |work=The EU Observer |date=15 March 2013}}{{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/ |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}}{{cite news| title=Seit einem Jahr in Hafts |url=http://www.taz.de/Netzaktivist-in-Syrien/!112902/|access-date=18 March 2013 |publisher=Taz |date=15 March 2013 |language=de |trans-title=In Custody for a Year}}

File:Examples of the Dutch FREEBASSEL campaign.jpg

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 conflict—the Index on Censorship,{{cite web|title=Birthday wishes for Bassel Khartabil|url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/05/birthday-wishes-for-bassel-khartabil/|publisher=Index on Censorship|access-date=24 May 2013|date=23 May 2013}}{{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|access-date=24 May 2013|date=22 May 2013}} Creative Commons,{{cite web|last=Harmon|first=Elliot|title=Bassel Khartabil's Second Birthday in Prison|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/38347|publisher=Creative Commons|access-date=24 May 2013|date=22 May 2013}} and the #FREEBASSEL campaign launched Project Sunlight,{{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}} to uncover more information about Khartabil's condition and location.{{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}} 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."{{cite news| title=Bassel Khartabil's Second Birthday in Prison |url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/38347 |access-date=3 April 2015 |publisher=Creative Commons |date=22 May 2013}}

At the Index on Censorship Awards, Jon Phillips said of Khartabil,

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.{{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}}

A letter supporting him was sent to the European Union Parliament later that year.{{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 }}

In 2014, Marc Weidenbaum gathered participants to create 38 musical pieces that might be used as a soundscape for an immersive, completed digital visualization of ancient Palmyra.{{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}} A second iteration of #FREEBASSELDAY involved a Wikipedia "edit-a-thon", meetups, the creation of a cookbook in Khartabil's honor, and press mentions.{{cite news |last=Tam |first=Donna |date=11 March 2014 |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}}File:Freebassel-jan-2017.jpg

Rebecca MacKinnon wrote about Khartabil and the Zone 9 Bloggers in the World Policy Journal,{{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 }} and Wikipedia hosted an editathon for Zone 9 bloggers.{{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}} On Human Rights Day, Global Voices led a campaign to raise awareness about his imprisonment.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}

In March 2015, the Electronic Frontier Foundation hosted a Wikipedia edit-a-thon for #FREEBASSELDAY.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} He was later profiled{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/offline/bassel-khartabil|title=Bassel (Safadi) Khartabil |date=29 September 2014}} with the launch{{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}} of the EFF's Offline{{Cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/offline|title=Offline: Imprisoned Bloggers and Technologists|website=Electronic Frontier Foundation|accessdate=15 December 2023}} project, "sharing the stories of imprisoned technologists and technology users."

In 2017, the #FREEBASSEL campaign asked supporters to do five public acts in honor of Khartabil, to be posted on social media.{{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}}

On 12 September 2015, Jaysh al-Islam shelled and stormed the prison, taking control of two buildings.{{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}}{{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}} Until early October Khartabil was still in Adra Prison in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria. By 3 October, military police took him from his cell in Adra with a 'top secret' sealed order from the Military Field Court.[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 He was transferred to an unknown location.{{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}}{{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}}

On 6 October, Amnesty International released a new report on Khartabil's status.{{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}} A day later, Human Rights Watch and 30 other human rights organizations issued a letter demanding that Khartabil's whereabouts be disclosed. On 17 October, Creative Commons Board of Directors approved a resolution calling for Khartabil's release.{{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=17 October 2015}} On 21 October, the New Palmyra project was launched to carry on his 3D modeling work and other creative uses of data about Palmyra.{{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 = 21 October 2015}}{{Cite web|title = New Palmyra|url = http://newpalmyra.org|website = newpalmyra.org|access-date =21 October 2015}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} Two days afterward, unconfirmed rumors surfaced that Khartabil had been sentenced to death.{{Cite web|date=12 November 2015|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}}{{Cite web|date=13 November 2015|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}}

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.{{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}}

The Electronic Frontier Foundation{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/08/bassel-khartabil-memoriam|title=Bassel Khartabil, In Memoriam|work=Electronic Frontier Foundation |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=3 August 2017 |last1=o'brien |first1=Danny }} and the Wikimedia Foundation{{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|access-date=3 August 2017}} as well as Global Voices{{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|access-date=6 August 2017}} 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.{{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|access-date=3 August 2017}} 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.{{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|access-date=11 August 2017}}

{{Main|New Palmyra Project}}

File:Bassel-bel-3.jpg from the New Palmyra project]]

Starting in 2005, Khartabil began collecting photographs of the ancient architecture and archaeology sites in Palmyra, in the hopes of reconstructing the city online, using 3D models and virtual spaces.

His efforts were put on hold when he was imprisoned, and some of his early work was lost. In 2015 his friends and colleagues launched the New Palmyra Project to bring that dream to life. Since then, many of the most famous structures in Palmyra have been modeled, and some life-size models built of structures that were destroyed in the Syrian Civil War.

As of 2017, most of the buildings and statues captured by the New Palmyra Project had been completely destroyed by ISIL.

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 paintings and poetry. For a short time, he published some of his writing to an anonymous prison blog{{Cite web|url=https://meinsyrianjail.wordpress.com|title=meinsyrianjail|website=meinsyrianjail|language=en-US|access-date=5 August 2017}} and Twitter account, via a friend.

"Jail is not walls, not the executioner and guards. It is the hidden fear in our hearts that makes us prisoners." —Bassel

In his last year in prison, he made a series of at least four paintings that he was able to smuggle out to friends.

{{Clear}}

• List of Wikipedia people

{{reflist|30em}}

{{sisterlinks|d=Q982696|c=category:Bassel Khartabil|n=Mozilla, Creative Commons, Wikimedia Foundation announce Bassel Khartabil Free Culture fellowship following execution of open culture activist|s=no|wikt=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|species=no|m=no|mw=no}}

• [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]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khartabil, Bassel}}

Category:1981 births

Category:2015 deaths

Category:Syrian computer programmers

Category:Copyright activists

Category:People from Damascus

Category:People of the Syrian civil war

Category:Palestinian people imprisoned by Syria

Category:Syrian democracy activists

Category:Syrian bloggers

Category:Syrian people of Palestinian descent

Category:Syrian prisoners and detainees

Category:Wikipedia people

Category:People executed by Syria

Category:Mozilla developers

Category:Creative Commons

Category:Executed Syrian people

Category:Syrian dissidents

Category:Political prisoners in Syria

Category:Syrian atheists

Category:Palestinian atheists