About

Bassel Khartabil (also known as Bassel Safadi) was a Syrian-Palestinian visionary who opened the internet in the Arab world. His life and legacy encompass software, hardware, education, art, and culture.

Bassel founded Aiki Lab — Syria’s first hackerspace — led Creative Commons Syria, contributed to Openclipart, FONTLIBRARY, and the book An Open Web, and co-founded #NEWPALMYRA to digitally preserve Syrian heritage.

After his detention in 2012 and execution in 2015, friends and community members launched #FREEBASSEL, the Bassel Khartabil Fellowship, and memorial programs that continue his work.

Learn more

• History — milestones in Bassel’s life and legacy
• Timeline view — chronological layout
• Projects — open culture initiatives he shaped
• Artworks — portraits, illustrations, and campaign art
• Wikipedia

Questions: support@basselkhartabil.org