KURDWATCH, March 10, 2011—The single military judge in al-Qamishli acquitted the writer Hawas Salman Mahmud and released him from custody February 27, 2011. Following his arrest on January 12, 2011, he was initially detained at the Political Security Directorate in al-Hasakah and was later transferred to the al-Qamishli prison. [Further information on the case]