Syrian Journalists Association Launches Legal Advisory Service for Syrian Journalists and Media Activists
The Syrian Journalists Association has released its third-quarter report for 2024, documenting violations against the media in Syria.
The Syrian Center for Media Freedom at the association recorded five violations between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024. One violation, which occurred in June, was documented later by the center after verification and confirmation of compliance with its documentation standards and methodology.
According to the report, most of the five violations occurred in August, with three incidents, while September saw one violation. The final violation took place in June. The third quarter witnessed a slight decrease in the number of documented violations compared to the first and second quarters of this year.
Unlike the first two quarters of the year, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was absent from the list of violators in the third quarter, despite previously topping the list. During this period, Syrian regime security forces were responsible for two violations, Syrian opposition forces for two violations, and forces affiliated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) for one violation.
Among the key incidents documented during the third quarter of 2024 were the arrest of one journalist, the detention of two others, and the prevention of media coverage. Syrian regime security forces arrested journalist Wahid Saeed Yazbek in Homs, releasing him the following evening. Syrian opposition military police also detained media activist Karam Talal Kallia in Azaz, north of Aleppo, holding him for nearly two and a half months.
Additionally, PYD forces detained journalist Kamal Sheikho while he was covering events in Hasakah, northeastern Syria. He was released after several hours. Syrian opposition military police also detained journalist Bakr Al-Qassem in Al-Bab, east of Aleppo, shortly after covering a local commercial event. He was released about a week later.
In another incident, Syrian regime security forces assaulted journalist Muneif Rashid while he was covering protests in Sweida, southern Syria, and stole his mobile phone during a live broadcast.
During the third quarter, PYD forces also released media activist Ali Saleh Al-Wakaa after he had been detained for nearly four years in Hasakah prisons.
The Syrian Center for Media Freedom had documented Al-Wakaa’s detention on February 4, 2021, when PYD forces arrested him while covering events at a hospital in the town of Hajin in Deir ez-Zor province.
In his comments on the report, Ibrahim Hussein, Director of the Syrian Center for Media Freedom, emphasized that media blackout and the silencing of journalists by all controlling forces in Syria remain major obstacles to documenting and monitoring violations. This suppression also hinders efforts to launch campaigns in support of journalists and media activists, who face various forms of violations, including threats, detention, and in some cases, murder.
Hussein also announced the launch of a new service by the Syrian Journalists Association to support journalists in Syria by providing legal consultations. The association’s support team will address problems and offer legal advice to Syrian journalists and media activists.
Legal advice
Hussein explained that the association aims to improve the working environment for journalists in Syria and seeks to establish partnerships with Arab and international press unions and organizations. These partnerships will help rally support and advocate for the rights of Syrian journalists, who continue to face censorship, repression of free expression, and hundreds of violations by the regime and various de facto authorities since 2011.
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or read it on our website.
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