The Syrian government is trying to "systematically dismantle" the anti-regime "citizen journalist network" and have seized a key player in the operation, CNN reports.
CNN was told by an activist, who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, the regime has been making arrests and have seized Ali Mahmoud Othman.
According to NOW Lebanon News, Othman is head of an opposition media center in the city of Homs.
"We believe Ali is being subjected to severe torture," the activist told CNN. "The lives of our activists and citizen journalists across the whole country are now at risk."
The capture of Othman is the latest attempt by the Syrian government to stifle independent reporting.
CNN reports Heather Blake, the UK representative for the group Reporters Without Borders, said Saturday that "Syrian authorities are systematically targeting journalists working inside Syria, and particularly local journalists and the media centers that have been set up. This is based on research that we and many other organizations have done."
Another group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, says at least eight journalists have died in Syria since November, CNN reports.
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