Life-threatening violations against media in northwest Syrian
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Reports monitored by North Press Agency revealed an increase in violations committed against media professionals and institutions in areas controlled by Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, known as Syrian National Army (SNA) in northwest Syria.
Syrian Center for Journalistic Freedoms (SCJF) documented in its September report seven violations by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) against journalists in areas under its control in northwest Syria.
The most notable documentation was an offence by HTS’ members against media professionals Ahmad Fallaha, Muhammad al-Daher, Abdul-Aziz Qitaz and Hadi al-Abdullah.
Also, Muhammad al-Faisal and Jamil al-Hassan were not allowed to cover events.
Repeated attacks
Early in October, a person named Abu Zayed Sharqiya, a leader in a faction affiliated with the SNA beat Hadi Tatin, Syria TV’s correspondent and his cameraman Khaled al-Hibil threatening them to death on the Bihar Street in the city of Afrin.
Offences against journalists in the SNA-controlled areas take place during covering protests and demonstrations in the area against dire living conditions, high costs of living, power outage and rarity of diesel.
On October 4, dozens of teachers in the city of al-Bab, east of Aleppo, organized a sit-in tent in front of the Education Directorate calling for an increase in salaries to meet their daily life basic needs.
In August, journalists in the city of Idlib were beaten while covering a sit-in by medical staff in Bab al-Jadid hospital by the Turkish-backed Civil Police.
In June, the Turkish-backed Sham Legion offended a group of journalists while they were covering evacuating locals from camps close to a site of an explosion in the vicinity of the town of Babisqa in north of Idlib.
Life-threatening violations
With no deterrence amid state of insecurity that sweeps the SNA-controlled areas, journalists are subject to violations including life-threatening ones.
Days ago, media activist, Muhammad Abdullatif known as Abu Ghannoum and his wife, were killed in an armed attack in the city of al-Bab.
A source told North Press that Abu Ghannoum was working with Harakat Ahrar al-Sham Islamiyya faction in the city of al-Bab. Along with his wife they were targeted close to the Automatic Bakery.