Free Media Union documents violations that affected journalists in Syria during 2025

The Free Media Union issued a report today documenting violations against journalists in Syria during 2025, noting that last year witnessed significant political shifts that impacted the media landscape in the country

The report stated that Syria entered a new political phase in 2025 following the fall of the Ba'athist regime at the end of 2024, beginning a transitional period whose effects continue to be felt across various Syrian regions.

It explained that power was transferred to an interim government in Damascus led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, but errors in managing this new phase negatively impacted the population, and journalists were among those affected.

The report indicated that journalists were directly targeted during 2025, with the Free Media Union documenting the killing of at least nine journalists and the injury of more than 15 others as a result of Turkish drone strikes or Israeli airstrikes, in addition to attacks carried out by security forces affiliated with the interim government or unidentified armed groups.

The Union also documented approximately 11 cases of journalists being arrested, most of them by the interim government in Damascus.

The Union stated that it worked throughout the year to document violations against journalists in various Syrian regions, with the aim of preparing a report reflecting the reality of media work and the challenges facing those working in this field.

At the end of the report, the Union of Free Media presented a set of recommendations, most notably guaranteeing freedom of the press in all Syrian regions, holding accountable those who incite violence against journalists, repealing laws that restrict freedom of expression, and revealing the fate of forcibly disappeared journalists, including Farhad Hamou, who was abducted by ISIS in 2014.

The report also called for supporting independent media, strengthening professional training programs for journalists, providing them with effective protection mechanisms, and enhancing cooperation with regional and international media organizations to contribute to the protection of journalists, especially in areas of armed conflict.

Sh-S

ANHA