The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) marked World Press Freedom Day by releasing its annual report on violations against media professionals in Syria. The report revealed that 715 journalists and media workers have been killed since the Syrian revolution began in March 2011 until May 2023, including 52 who died due to torture.
The report highlighted that the Assad regime bears responsibility for about 91% of the death toll and 85% of the overall violations against journalists and media workers in Syria. The report documented the killing of 715 journalists and media workers, including six women and nine foreign journalists. Additionally, it reports that at least 1,603 others have been injured, including one female journalist and five foreign journalists.
The report states that ISIS killed 64 media workers, including two female workers and three foreign journalists. Furthermore, eight others were killed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham militant group, four journalists were killed by the PYD militia, and one journalist was killed by the international coalition forces. 61 others, including three female journalists and one foreign journalist, were killed by other parties.
The report notes that 471 media workers, including nine females and 17 foreign journalists, remain in detention. The Assad regime continues to arrest 387 of them, including eight females and four foreign journalists, while ISIS arrested 48, including one female journalist and eight foreign journalists. Furthermore, 11 media workers are detained by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, 13 by the PYD militia, and 12, including five foreign journalists, are still missing at the hands of other forces.
The rights group urged all conflict parties to release journalists and media workers immediately, reveal the fate of the forcibly disappeared, and revoke all “security laws” that suppress freedom of opinion and expression, particularly those issued by the Assad regime.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
