The Syrian Center for Journalistic Freedoms of the Association of Syrian Journalists said that it had recorded at least 11 violations against media workers in Syria in February, with the Russian forces responsible for the majority of these violations.
In a report issued on Wednesday, the Center pointed out that the Russian forces committed six violations, while the Assad regime and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham militant group committed two violations each. The PYD militia was responsible for one violation.
The Center pointed to an increase in violations against media workers in Syria compared to the month of January due to the intensification of the fighting and bombing by the Assad regime and Russian forces in northwestern Syria.
According to the Center, a media worker was killed and seven others were injured in attacks by the Assad regime and Russian forces in the reporting period. The death has brought to 456 the number of media workers and journalists that have been verified killed since mid-March 2011. Other violations that the Center recorded included detention, physical assaults, and restriction of press freedom.
The report indicated that ten violations took place in Idlib province, while another took place in Deir Ezzor.
The Center called for respecting freedom of the press; ensuring the safety of media workers; and holding accountable those responsible for violations. It also called for respecting Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
