The Syrian government on April 1, 2013, informed Hassan’s family about
his death, but did not offer details on the circumstances or exact date of his
death. The journalist had been arrested in January in Damascus, according to
the local opposition station Watan FM.
Hassan died
while being held at Palestine Branch, a feared prison of Syria’s Military
Intelligence Security that is known for the severe abuse of prisoners,
according to Watan FM. The station, local opposition groups, and press freedom
groups including the Syrian Journalists Association said he had been tortured
to death.
Hassan, who was also known as “Mohammed al-Ghazali,” was the
director of broadcasting for Watan FM.