Hala Al-Jarf is a Syrian media figure and long-time television presenter with state TV who was arrested on 24 January 2021 upon her return to Damascus from Al-Salmiah. She was first detained by the Criminal Security Branch, accused of “communicating with and dealing with suspicious websites” under Articles 285, 286, 287 of the Syrian Penal Code and Article 28 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, following critical posts she had published on Facebook. On 19 January 2021 she posted: “We do not want snow… no oil, no bread… We want death… We want death… We want death…” and on 22 January added: “Let your motto for the next stage be ‘Stay home’ and remain completely silent,” comments believed to have led directly to her arrest.