A/HRC/30/48 J. Human rights defenders and lawyers 148. Human rights defenders and lawyers continue to be specifically targeted for arbitrary arrest and detention, abductions, enforced disappearances, torture and executions because of their professional activities. 149. Government forces use the sweeping 2012 counter-terrorism legislation and its special court to stifle dissent and silence the advocacy efforts of lawyers and human rights defenders. Human rights and peace activists form the large majority of those detained under article 8 of the anti-terrorism law, which prescribes imprisonment and forced labour for a variety of vaguely defined terrorism-related offenses that include distributing written materials or information. 150. In February 2012, Hussein Ghrer, Hani Al-Zaytani and Mazen Darwish were arrested at their workplace, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, by Syrian Air Force personnel. In March 2014, they were charged with “publicizing terrorist acts” and “promoting terrorist activities” under article 8 of the anti-terrorism law. Amidst growing calls for their release, their trials had been repeatedly adjourned without explanation. The Commission welcomes the release of Hussein Ghrer and Hani Al-Zaytani in mid-July 2015 and of Mazen Darwish on 10 August 2015, but notes that the charges against the three men remain, as does the spectre of further imprisonment. 151. Lawyers who represent clients appearing before the counter-terrorism court are routinely harassed, and in some instances detained. Many have reported being subject to retaliatory actions, including disbarment. 152. Anti-Government armed groups have directed attacks against human rights activists. Among the many abducted, disappeared and killed are four human rights activists: Razan Zeitouneh, Wael Hamada, Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi, kidnapped from their office in Douma (Rif Damascus) in December 2013. Their fate and whereabouts are unknown. 153. ISIS attacked activists trying to communicate the daily suffering of those living under its control. The fate of peace activist Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, abducted in Raqqah city in January 2014 by ISIS, is unknown. In July, ISIS published the video of the execution of two Syrians accused of working with the activist Hammoud al-Mousa for the “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” campaign. 154. By silencing lawyers and human rights defenders for their roles in the dissemination of human rights abuses, all parties to the conflict perpetuate the culture of impunity prevailing in the Syrian Arab Republic. K. Journalists 155. Syria has become the world’s most dangerous country for journalists, with at least 83 killed since late 2011. Violence against journalists continues unabated, forcing scores of Syrian reporters into exile. Media activists still reporting inside the Syrian Arab Republic operate under constant threat and fear for their lives. 156. Journalists continue to be systematically targeted by Government forces for documenting and disseminating information perceived to be supportive of the opposition or disloyal to the Government. Large numbers of journalists are still detained in Governmentcontrolled detention centres, where they are subjected to disappearance and torture. An unknown number have died in detention. 157. In regions controlled by Jabhat Al-Nusra, offices of media activists perceived as being critical of the group have been raided, and journalists routinely intimidated for 19