Fact-Finding Committee: 9 journalists killed in Syria in year

The Fact-Finding Committee on Crimes Committed Against Journalists, comprised of the Free Media Union and the Human Rights Organization in Syria, along with a group of human rights activists and independent journalists, held a press conference on Monday in Al-Qira'a (The Reading) Park in Qamishlo. The conference, attended by a number of journalists and media professionals, was held to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

On the platform where the statement was delivered, images of the martyrs Jihan Bilkin and Nazim Dashtan, who were martyred while covering the Turkish occupation state's attacks on the Tishrin Dam on December 19, 2024, as they were directly targeted by the occupation state when they returned from their coverage, Akid Roj, who was killed on February 15, 2025, while covering the popular resistance at the Tishrin Dam in a direct attack by the Turkish occupation using a drone, and Issam Abdullah, who was killed on November 20, 2022, in a Turkish occupation state airstrike on the village of Taql Baqal in the city of Derik in Jazira region, were hung.

During the conference, Benyad Jaziri, the advisor to the co-presidency of the Free Media Union, delivered a public statement outlining the state of journalism in Syria and the ongoing violations and crimes committed against journalists, and he called for enhanced legal protection for them.

The statement included: "On this International Day, November 2nd, first determined by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2013, to draw attention to the high level of impunity for crimes committed against journalists, particularly during armed conflicts."

The statement emphasized that journalists have often become targets of conflicting parties, who seek to obscure the truth and conceal the grave and widespread violations committed while covering events.

The statement made clear: "On this International Day, we stand with journalists around the world, salute their courage in uncovering the truth, reaffirm our commitment to press freedom, and strongly condemn the continued impunity for crimes committed against them."

He referred to UNESCO data on the killing of journalists, which indicated that between 2006 and 2024, more than 1,700 journalists were killed worldwide, with an alarming 86% impunity rate for these crimes. This high rate has negative repercussions on the principles and values of justice. It also leads to the loss of victims' rights and the obscuring of facts, restricts freedom of expression, and harms societies by concealing serious human rights violations, corruption, and crime. Furthermore, it restricts journalistic work aimed at documenting facts and supporting justice with evidence and proof.

The statement highlighted the situation in Syria, explaining that this day comes at a time when the world is witnessing one of the greatest crises, inflicting suffering on the entire Syrian people through a bitter conflict involving numerous powers. This has led to the destruction of the country's resources in a war of attrition that has exhausted and disfigured it. He also noted that this war has sought to undermine civil peace amid chaos and sectarian and ethnic hate speech that threatens to tear apart the national fabric and territorial integrity of Syria, in a crisis that has extended for 14 years, amid impunity for the crimes committed and the continued chaos and bloodshed.

The statement emphasized that the risks to journalists in Syria are doubled by their work in a highly complex and contradictory environment, amid armed conflict, ongoing violations, and repeated threats from multiple parties despite the political changes the country witnessed last year, as the environment for journalistic work remains fraught with danger. Many Syrian journalists have paid their lives for reporting the truth, while the lives of others remain threatened amidst smear campaigns and continuous threats that have driven some to leave the country and seek asylum.

The statement revealed a documented escalation in violations during 2025, including killings, arrests, arbitrary detentions, direct assaults, suspension from work, and prevention from reporting. It pointed out that these violations were committed in the clear absence of a legal framework for the protection of journalists, and with multiple controlling entities.

The statement highlighted the significantly worsening fragility of the media situation, citing the Free Media Union's 2025 documentation of the most prominent violations against journalists and media professionals in various regions of Syria. These violations included killings, direct targeting, and attacks intended to intimidate and prevent the documentation of facts.

The statement added, "Six Syrian journalists were killed while covering events in the country, in addition to two journalists working for Hawar News Agency and ANF News Agency, whose vehicle was directly targeted by a drone as they returned from covering the attacks on the Tishrin Dam. Journalist Shervan Sido also lost his life while covering the same events as a result of direct Turkish shelling."

The statement indicated that nine media professionals were documented as being targeted while covering the attacks launched by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on the Tishrin Dam, resulting in varying degrees of injury. Six cases of assault and intimidation against journalists in several Syrian regions were also recorded, aimed at preventing them from carrying out their work, and resulting in various injuries. The statement also documented the direct targeting of four journalists with live ammunition while they were covering events in Sweida by armed groups, though no injuries were reported.

The statement further documented cases of arbitrary arrests of journalists, recording seven arrests in areas under the control of the Interim Government. It also noted strict censorship of media outlets and the prevention of coverage of numerous events, with six such cases recorded in Syria. The statement documented four additional cases in separate incidents across the country, culminating in the attacks targeting the Syrian coast and Sweida, and the accompanying media incitement during the attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods of Aleppo. The statement also pointed to the existence of organized media networks that disseminate hate speech among Syrians on social media in an inflammatory manner characterized by clear sectarian, ethnic, and religious discrimination.

The statement explained, "We, the Commission of Inquiry into Crimes Committed Against Journalists, which was first formed in 2024 in the regions of North and East Syria, aim to monitor and investigate violations committed against journalists in Syria and demand legal accountability. Given the challenges journalists face while covering events, on this World Press Freedom Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom, despite the security threats that impede professional journalistic work and the lack of legal safeguards in trials related to crimes committed against journalists worldwide. We reiterate and reaffirm the following demands:

Activating comprehensive political will to ensure the effective implementation of UN resolutions and guarantee the safety of journalists.

Emphasizing the need to establish an independent monitoring and reporting mechanism for serious crimes and violations committed against journalists in areas of armed conflict. This mechanism should be capable of investigating and holding perpetrators accountable in all areas without restriction or preconditions, and should support those working in this field to provide a free and safe media environment that strengthens the role of journalism in building justice and reconciliation.

Stressing the imperative of respecting the role of journalists and reporters in areas of armed conflict.

Supporting and reforming mechanisms, bodies, and international courts by advocating for the adoption of a legally binding international instrument for the protection of journalists.

Urging governments and national institutions to work towards strengthening compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law.

Investigating all serious violations committed against Syrian journalists and holding all perpetrators accountable through transparent national and international judicial mechanisms.

Launching a sustained global campaign to raise awareness about the protection of journalists during armed conflicts, achieve accountability, and end impunity.

Strengthening adherence to professional ethics and combating hate speech and sectarianism in Syrian media to preserve the impartiality of journalistic work.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that protecting journalists is a fundamental goal and a cornerstone in building a free, just, and enlightened society. It also noted that the fact-finding committee investigating crimes committed against journalists, comprised of the Free Media Union, the Human Rights Organization in Syria, and a group of human rights activists and independent journalists, has prepared seven reports that will be submitted to international bodies concerned with the rights of journalists.

J.J

ANHA