Adobe InDesign
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E-reader devices and digital bookstore for ebooks and audiobooks
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High-vote services get prioritized for outreach
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Activity Summary
Restricted for users in Syria. Community testing in March 2026 found that the Kobo site, book browsing, and account creation all work, but completing a purchase redirects to a sanctioned-countries page stating that purchases from the user's country are not supported. The restriction targets billing, not access. No outreach to the company has been made yet.
Investigated
Community testing from Syria confirmed that Kobo (kobo.com) is restricted. The main website loads normally, book browsing and account creation work, but attempting to complete a purchase redirects to kobo.com/ww/en/sanctionedcountries with the message: "Purchases from your country, as indicated in y...
Need Help with Kobo?
If you're experiencing issues accessing Kobo in Syria, you can reach out to their support team directly.
Work at Rakuten? Know someone who does?
Sanctions are lifted. Most companies just haven't updated their policies. A word from inside Rakuten can change that.
Tips for advocating
- Reach out to legal, compliance, or policy teams.
- Reference the lifted sanctions.
- Point to competitors who have already unblocked Syria.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Kobo is restricted in Syria. Access may require workarounds or may not be fully functional. We are monitoring the situation.
Many international services blocked access to Syria due to previous sanctions and compliance policies. Even as sanctions are being reviewed, some companies have not yet restored access. Unblock Syria tracks these services and advocates for change.
You can help by voting on this page to show demand, sharing it on social media, and contacting Kobo directly to request they restore access for Syrian users.