Kurdish journalists resign from Syrian journalists association over bias
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A group of 20 Kurdish journalists in Syria announced on Sunday their collective resignation from the Syrian Journalists Association, citing what they described as a departure from the values and principles upon which the body was founded.
The resignations followed a recent statement issued by the Association regarding events in Aleppo. The journalists said the statement was politically motivated, biased, and one-sided, failing to acknowledge documented violations, indiscriminate shelling, and direct targeting of civilians and journalists in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.
In their resignation letter, the journalists declared: “We, the undersigned members of the Syrian Journalists Association, announce our collective resignation after reaching a firm conviction that the Association has deviated from the values and principles it was established upon. It no longer serves as an independent professional umbrella concerned with defending press freedom, journalists’ dignity, and the independence of media work.”
The group further noted that the Association’s recent conduct reflected a shift from professional neutrality to political alignment, at a time when Syria continues to experience deep societal and political divisions alongside growing restrictions on media work.
They added: “We have witnessed a clear violation of the Association’s internal regulations, particularly regarding the prohibition of hate speech and incitement. Practices, statements, and posts by some members were tolerated despite being in direct contradiction with journalistic ethics and the collective principles meant to regulate union work.”
The resigning journalists emphasized that remaining within the Association no longer represented the aspirations of Syrian journalists, nor safeguarded their professional independence.
The Syrian Journalists Association, established to defend press freedom and provide a professional framework for journalists across the country, has faced criticism in recent years over its perceived political positioning. The latest resignations mark one of the most significant collective withdrawals from the body.
The Association has not yet issued an official response to the resignations.