Syria: Teenage Blogger Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Syrian blogger, Tal al-Mallouhi, a 19 year old female high school student, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison by a state security court on charges of spying for the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.  She was first detained in December 2009 and had been held since then without charge.  The UK – based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights released a statement (in Arabic)  acknowledging al-Mallouhi’s sentencing.  P.J. Crowley, State Department spokesman, also released a statementcondemning the sentencing and “secret trial” of al-Mallouhi, called for her immediate release, and denied all charges that she is an American spy.