Damascus: Syrian human rights lawyer Haytham Maleh was charged yesterday with publishing false information and “insulting” a government entity, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“The military tribunal today charged activist Haytham Maleh with the crime of publishing false information that could weaken national sentiment. Maleh is also suspected of the crime of insulting a government office,” the London-based group said.

Maleh, 78, was taken into custody on October 14. “Following his arrest, Mr Maleh was questioned by the military tribunal about articles he had written,” the Observatory said, without elaborating.

Lawyers will appeal against the charges, the group added, demanding that the government “immediately and unconditionally free the activist Maleh and all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Syrian prisons.”