In the most recent Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index rankings, Syria has dropped further yet in the index to 176 out of a total of 179 countries. While Article 38 of Syria’s constitution provides for freedoms of speech and freedoms of the press, these rights are restricted due to other overpowering laws. The 1963 State of Emergency Law allows for the arrest of journalists who the government deems as threatening Syria’s national security. The 2001 Press Law allows for government control over all print media and those accused of violating this law could face up to three years in prison and fines up to 1 million Syrian pounds ($20,000 U.S. dollars). The Syrian Ministry of Information has the power to ban foreign publications if they see them as a threat.
If you want to be a journalist in Syria, or a foreign reporter covering Syrian news, you must follow the rules of the Syrian government. This includes no criticism of the president or his family, security services, issues such as the Kurdish and Alawite minorities, and more. There is self-censorship among journalists who don’t know where the lines are regarding what is acceptable to say and to write.
In 2005, the Press Law was amended to also apply to electronic as well as print publications and implemented specific regulations (for example, editors of electronic media must be at least 25 years old and not employees of a foreign government). Syria has recently approved a low that allows government officials to enter offices of journalists, take their materials, and punish them for their writings.
Choosing journalism as a profession in Syria is almost as risky as choosing to become a special ops Army Ranger for the United States. Journalist are arrested, murdered and threatened for expressing the truth. I feel that the citizens of the United States take for granted our press freedom.
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