The Syrian journalist and human rights activist Mazen Darwish founded the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) in 2004. Together with other activists, he reported on the restricted freedom of expression and the situation of political prisoners in Syria. He campaigned for a reform of the press law and drew international attention to the disappearance of bloggers and journalists. Since the beginning of the protest movement in Syria, he has been one of the most important sources of information for foreign media. His commitment led to repeated conflicts with the Syrian regime. Since 2007, he has been subject to a travel ban and arrested several times. In February 2012, the Syrian secret service raided the SCM offices and arrested 16 employees, including Mazen Darwish. Reporters Without Borders named him Journalist of the Year 2012. In August 2015, Darwish was provisionally released, and a month later, a court granted him amnesty. He lives in exile in Germany.