Critic Toni Daniel arrested in Lattakia after alleging syndicate corruption

Toni Daniel, a Syrian opposition figure, was detained in Lattakia after publicly accusing the Engineers Syndicate of administrative and financial corruption during a television appearance. Witnesses said he was seized in front of the syndicate building and taken away in a white civilian van without a prior judicial summons. Activists, lawyers and rights groups described the arrest as arbitrary; Mohammad al‑Abdallah of the Syrian Center for Justice and Accountability said the manner of detention resembled an abduction, and observers noted authorities may have invoked the cybercrime law to justify the move.

Legal advocates have called for an inquiry, arguing the arrest may violate recent guidance (Circular No. 26, June 29, 2026) aimed at limiting arrests based on personal complaints and restricting pretrial detention. Lawyer Michel Shammas demanded an investigation and warned that resorting to charges and procedures used under the former regime undermines promises of judicial reform. Critics, including architect Nahil Zarba, urged repeal or overhaul of the cybercrime statute, and rights groups pointed to a string of recent detentions of activists as evidence of a broader clampdown on dissent and public debate, as reported by The Syrian Observer