The Journalists’ Federation Releases First Report on Media Freedoms

The Federation of Journalists has launched today its first report on the state of media freedoms in Syria, which includes recorded violations against media institutions and media professionals as well as proposals on the legislative environment for journalistic work in addition to the laws regarding cybercrime and media.

The report, launched by the Federation today from Al-Wehda Foundation for Printing, Publishing and Distribution in Damascus, devoted the first part to the 61 cases of violations recorded against media professionals in Syria during the year 2021, most of which took place in areas of presence of the American and Turkish occupations, militias and terrorist groups supported by them, such as the “SDF” and “Jabhat al-Nusra.” as well as the violations practiced by the Israeli occupation.

The report also documented, according to the Vice-President of the Federation of Journalists, Raeda Waqqaf, cases of arrests of journalists by judicial authorities for reasons not related to media work against the background of electronic or information crimes, in addition to cases of defamation and transfer from workplaces or arrests for writing and intimidation after tracking cases of corruption.

Waqqaf indicated that the report also focused on the impact of the coercive measures imposed on Syria and on press institutions, which are no longer able to purchase media equipment or other supplies necessary for work.

Regarding the legislative environment related to media work, the head of the Journalists Federation, Musa Abdel Nour, stated that he focused on the need not to restrict media freedom, which is protected by the constitution. He also referred to the role of the Ministry of Information in ensuring that the media staff have the right to obtain the information they need.

In their interventions, the attendants indicated the necessity of involving the Federation of Journalists in discussions on the subject of cybercrime, obligating public authorities to provide journalists with information and subjecting journalists involved in the subject of cybercrime to the media law.