In visit to Syria by Moazzam Begg, CAGE International reaffirmed to Syrian authorities the necessity to resolve the case of Journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem

London — CAGE International conducted a visit to Syria in which we engaged with Syrian authorities on the case of independent American war correspondent Bilal Abdul Kareem (Darrell Lamont Phelps) in al-Bab, northern Aleppo.

The update follows a recent visit to Syria by CAGE International’s Senior Director, Moazzam Begg, who travelled to the region to meet with Abdul Kareem’s family and friends, and to engage in direct dialogue with local authorities to explore practical avenues for resolving the case. CAGE and Moazzam have been in constant behind-the-scenes discussions with Syrian officials and Bilal's family and friends since his detention.

Abdul Kareem, a native of New York who has spent over a decade documenting the Syrian conflict, was detained on 22 December 2025 near al-Fath Mosque in al-Bab. His family has faced prolonged uncertainty regarding his health, well-being, and legal standing, having received only a single, monitored voice message from him since his arrest. His detention occurred following his public commentary regarding the newly formed post-Assad administration's military cooperation with the US-led coalition.

During his time in Syria, Moazzam Begg met with Syrian officials to discuss the legal status of the case, emphasising the importance of international standards of due process, legal representation, and transparent judicial proceedings.

Moazzam Begg, Senior Director of CAGE International, stated:

"During my recent visit to Syria, I spent time with Bilal’s family and close friends to better understand their situation and offer support. The prolonged uncertainty is naturally a source of deep anxiety for his loved ones and young children, who are eager to see him back with them. Bilal Abdul Kareem has spent more than ten years reporting extensively on the ground, providing an independent lens on the Syrian civil war to audiences worldwide.

Bilal received a short family visit while I was there. I understand his health to be generally well, but there is some visible deterioration in his appearance.

While in the region, I engaged in constructive discussions with the authorities in Syria to understand the nature of the allegations and to discuss procedural ways forward. We discussed the importance of ensuring the legal process is handled with complete transparency, in line with the principles of justice and accountability. Our focus remains on encouraging a fair, transparent resolution that respects due process and allows Bilal to safely reunite with his family. We remain hopeful that Bilal will come home in the coming weeks."

CAGE International notes that Abdul Kareem—who previously initiated legal challenges through human rights groups like Reprieve regarding his reported inclusion on the US government’s targeted 'kill list'—currently remains in legal limbo. The organisation will continue to monitor the case closely and maintain open communication with both his legal representatives and local authorities to ensure his welfare and legal rights are upheld.

[ENDS]

Notes to Editors:

1. About Bilal Abdul Kareem: Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Bilal Abdul Kareem is an American Muslim journalist who relocated to Syria in 2012. He founded the independent media outlet On the Ground News (OGN) and has provided localised frontline reporting for major international networks including CNN, the BBC, and Sky News.
2. Context of Detention: Abdul Kareem was detained by security forces in northern Aleppo in December 2025. 
3. About CAGE International: CAGE International is an independent advocacy organisation that documents state-sponsored arbitrary detentions and works to promote due process and human rights globally.

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