During the past week, the ‘Amina’ hoax diverted the energies, time and resources of international human rights organisations, journalists, and the US State Department, among others, from the events actually taking place in Syria. And it has placed activists within Syria at greater risk of harm.

In the past week it has been revealed that Syrian lesbian blogger, ‘Amina’ was a hoax. One of the repercussions is that real LGBT activists living under the Syrian regime have effectively been discredited and now face additional risk from the authorities. Two activists respond.

Since yesterday evening, the news has filtered out of Syria that Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari was abducted from the street in Damascus. It is terrifying to think what may be happening to her and the tens of thousands who have been detained by the regime.