Around 700 artists and writers worldwide call for the immediate release of Syrian painter Youssef Abdelke, who has been in the custody of the Syrian regime since 19 July.

They also demand the release of all political prisoners in Syria in their statement released on Monday 12 August.

"We artists and supporters of freedom rights all over the world stand in solidarity with detained artist Youssef Abdelke. Furthermore, we demand his release along with the two colleagues who were arrested with him, Adnan Al-Debs and Tawfik Omran, and all other political prisoners in Syria," reads the statement.

"Abdleke never gave up on demanding freedom and dignity for himself and the Syrian people with the aim of establishing a civil, democratic state. He continued to do so after he was forced into exile in Paris. Although he realised the risks of going back to Damascus, he returned to live with his people, participating with them in the peaceful resistance against the regime. Hence, he continued painting in a restless hope to continue serving that resistance," the statement continued.

Artists and intellectuals who signed the statement include former French culture minister Jack Lang; artists Marcel Khalife, Naser Shemah and Assem Al Basha; French director Costa Gavras; journalist Alain Gresh; writers  Hazem Saghieh and Gilbert Achcar and others, including around 200 Egyptian writers and artists.

Abdelke is one of the most well-known among a generation of Syrian artists in Middle Eastern art. As a former political prisoner who spent two years in jail under Hafez Al-Assad, the current ruler's father, Abdelke campaigned for many years for the release of political prisoners.

He was arrested by Syrian security forces last month along with two colleagues after he signed a declaration calling for the departure of President Bashar Al-Assad.