Syria / Middle East & North Africa

  
Mourners gather at the funeral of Syrian photojournalist Anas Alkharboutli in Syria's northern city of Idlib on December 4, 2024. Alkharboutli was killed in an air strike near the Syrian city of Hama on December 3, his employer said. (Photo: AFP/Omar Haj Kadour)

Award-winning Syrian photojournalist Anas Alkharboutli killed in Hama

Sulaymaniyah, December 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is saddened and alarmed by the killing of award-winning Syrian journalist Anas Alkharboutli in a western Syria conflict zone and calls for an investigation into whether he was targeted for his work. Alkharboutli, 32, who worked as a photographer for the German agency dpa, was killed in…

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CPJ, partners call for transparency as exiled Syrian journalist applies for UK citizenship

CPJ joined three other international press freedom and human rights organizations in an October 18 letter to U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressing concerns over delays in the citizen application of Zaina Erhaim, an award-winning exiled Syrian journalist who has lived in the U.K. since 2017 and has been targeted by Syrian authorities due to…

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Syrian journalist Bakr al-Kassem, who freelances for AFP news agency, was detained at a checkpoint on August 26, his house was searched, and his equipment confiscated. It is unclear why he is being held. (Photo: Courtesy of Nabiha Taha)

Syrian journalist detained without explanation, held by Turkish intelligence

Editor’s note: Bakr al-Kassem was released without charge on September 2, according to media reports. Beirut, August 27, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Monday’s detention of freelance journalist Bakr al-Kassem in northern Syria and his transfer to Turkish intelligence custody, and calls for his immediate release. “We are deeply concerned that Syrian opposition…

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Man stands in a suit.

Journalist threatened after reporting on drug trafficking in northern Syria

Since June 10, 2024, Syrian journalist Jomaa Akash, a correspondent for the Saudi state-owned broadcasters Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, has received threats of violence on social media, according to statements by the independent Syrian Journalists Association (SYJA) and Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, and the journalist who spoke to CPJ.  The threats followed Akash’s June…

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An anti-government demonstration in the Syrian city of Sweida in September.

Syrian journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim arrested after post on anti-Assad protests

Istanbul, May 17, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday called on Syrian authorities to release detained Syrian journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim immediately and to disclose his location and that of all imprisoned journalists. On February 25, Syrian government forces arrested Ibrahim, an editor with Al-Thawra newspaper, which is published by the ruling Baath party, after…

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Haiti joins list of countries where killers of journalists most likely to go unpunished

By Arlene Getz/CPJ Editorial Director The persistent lack of justice for murdered reporters is a major threat to press freedom. Ten years after the United Nations declared an international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists – and more than 30 years after CPJ began documenting these killings – almost 80% of their killings…

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Driver killed, journalist severely injured by suspected Turkish drone strike in Syria

Beirut, August 25, 2023—Turkish authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate a recent drone attack in Syria that killed a driver and injured a journalist, determine if they were targeted for their work, and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, August 23, a suspected Turkish drone strike in…

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Syria revokes accreditation of 2 BBC journalists

Beirut, July 10, 2023 – Syria’s Ministry of Information must reverse its decision to revoke the accreditation of two BBC journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 8, the ministry said it had canceled the accreditation of two local journalists working for the BBC over “false” and “politicized” reporting, according to a…

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CPJ calls on Turkish authorities to investigate airstrikes that killed Hawar News Agency reporter

Washington, D.C., November 22, 2022—Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday called on Turkish authorities to immediately conduct a full and transparent investigation into whether Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reporter Essam Abdullah and other civilians were targeted during Turkish airstrikes in northern Syria. Abdullah was killed and Mohammed Jarada, reporter of Sterk TV, was injured during…

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Killing with impunity: Vast majority of journalists’ murderers go free

By Jennifer Dunham/CPJ Deputy Editorial Director No one has been held to account in nearly 80% of journalist murders during the last 10 years, CPJ’s 2022 Global Impunity Index found, and governments show little interest in tackling the issue. Published November 1, 2022 Statistical table | Methodology | Database: All journalists murdered for their work…

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