20 Million Copies: Unauthorized Image Use in Syrian Biometric Passport Sparks Legal Debate

A photograph of Damascus’s Al-Hamidiyah market appeared inside the Syrian biometric passport, accompanied by a clear watermark bearing the photographer’s name, Wissam Asmar, sparking widespread debate on social media platforms.

Origin of the Image and Its Official Use

The image dates back to a documentation project by Asmar during his first visit to the Syrian capital in 2009. It was later used in the design of the biometric passport launched by the previous regime government in 2023, without removing the watermark or obtaining formal authorization from the photo’s owner.

Photographer’s Reaction

Asmar said in a press statement that he first learned of the news through an anonymous message on Facebook three years ago, and no official body had ever contacted him seeking permission or even informing him about the use of the image. He added that he was outside Syria at the time, and for him, the issue is clear: his photograph was used in an official document printed in millions of copies, without regard for his moral or material rights.

Estimates of Distribution and Legal Value

Asmar estimated that his photograph may be present in approximately 20 million printed copies of the biometric passport. He noted that the value of using such an image in similar cases outside Syria could reach up to one million U.S. dollars, opening a complex legal file regarding intellectual property within official institutions.

Timeline of the Design Context

Activists clarified that the biometric passport design was not a recent development but dates back to 2023, and thousands of copies remain in citizens’ hands and are still used daily. Therefore, while the visual error is old, its consequences have only emerged now due to renewed digital platform circulation.