Yasser Al-Saleem is a Syrian human rights lawyer and independent activist based in Kafr Nabl, Idlib governorate. In the early hours of 22 September 2018, an armed group stormed his home and arrested him along with activist Abdelhamid Al-Bayoush, who was visiting. They were reportedly transferred to Al-Eqab prison in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area, approximately 40 km south-west of Idlib city, but no reasons for their arrests were disclosed. Al-Saleem was known for his peaceful advocacy, including calling for the release of detainees and abductees; the day before his arrest, he participated in demonstrations in Kafr Nabl demanding the release of Sweida citizens kidnapped by Daesh. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights strongly deplores his arrest as being solely due to his civilian and legal activism, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of both him and Abdelhamid Al-Bayoush, while urging all parties in Syria to respect public freedoms such as peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.