1971 signified the beginning of a new political climate in the Syrian Arab Republic. The new regime established Syria as a Middle Eastern world power. With new president Hafez al-Assad came a renewed sense of empowerment for the Syrian people. A newfound loyalty for government and country was established and even became compulsory. Dissent was forbidden, in some occasions even punishable by death. In 1982 alone, Assad was responsible for the death of more than 20,000 rebels. The reign of the new ruler brought forth a police state that favored free speech, as long as the free speech favored it back.
Over three decades later, the same principles rule the Syrian government. After Hafez al-Assad died of a heart attack in 2000, his son Bashar took office and has since been working tirelessly to build on his father’s authoritarian legacy. But in a new and modernized world, Bashar found the suppression of speech to be less simple than it once was. With tools and technology this advanced, it became increasingly difficult to keep the masses in line and lie to the rest of the world about his actions. The tipping point was the build up of dissent, in form of peaceful protests against Bashar’s brutal torture of 15 teenage boys and subsequent murder of one of these boys — an eleven-year-old. A civil war had begun and the world began to cast glances at the country’s way. As more died and began to be displaced, journalists, both native and foreign, swarmed to areas of interest to share stories which generated in the thousands.
But naturally, a war that began in attempts to silence the masses was not going to accommodate those who would document the crimes against humanity being inflicted.
This effectively established Syria as the most dangerous place for journalists.
Series of abductions and murders have occurred and while some have struck the mainstream radar, usually when the journalists in question are of western nationality, the plight of native Syrian journalists is going mainly unnoticed. The Committee to Protect Journalists does a great job of documenting the deaths of journalists in Syria, but a more focused effort has to be taken in order to not only account for the lives of journalists in Syria but in staying updated on the life and situation in Syria. In a place where some of the worst atrocities of humankind are being committed, staying updated on the events and the people who report on the events ensures that accountability will be held when those reporting on the truth are silenced.
While fewer journalists are still around to cover the growing crisis, staying updated on journalists, their stories and their well-being is possible through:
- Reports done by The Committee to Protect Journalists provide updates on journalism in Syria.
- NewsDeeply.com has a section called Syria Deeply where they highlight various aspects of life in Syria sometimes written by Syrian journalists to to be familiarized with.
