A significant decrease in the intensity of violations as a significant step in enhancing press freedom
:Who We Are
The Documentation and Monitoring Office for Violations is affiliated with the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, which serves as an independent media organizational framework, aims to defend journalistic freedoms in areas where it operates, regardless of gender, sect, ethnicity, or the affiliations of the institutions they work for or the offending party. It includes Kurdish Syrian journalists and other journalists from various components within and outside of Syria
The network was established on 10/3/2012, initially adopting the name ‘Union of Syrian Kurdish Journalists.’ A group of Kurdish university graduates from the Faculty of Media at Damascus University deemed it necessary to enhance the Kurdish media reality and address the Syrian situation in general, and the Kurdish situation in particular, with neutrality and professionalism, away from any political or partisan bias. The name was later changed from ‘Union’ to ‘Network’ based on the decisions of the fourth conference held on August 8th, 2020, with the approval of the majority of members. As such, the network relies on its members dispersed in various regions to prepare its annual report, using specific criteria in accordance with international laws and norms for the protection of journalists. These violations are committed by various parties involved in the conflict in Syria, as well as external parties and entities. Additionally, the network relies on news and journalistic reports published by local media at the moment of the violation, monitoring and documentation centers, after analyzing and verifying them with professionalism and transparency. The network also resorts to the testimonies provided by the assaulted journalist, if available or accessible
:Executive Summary
The “Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network” stated in its annual report on the state of freedoms and violations committed against journalists in northern and eastern Syria, and the Kurdish regions under the control of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, that there has been a “significant decrease in the number of violations against journalists and media institutions, marking a crucial step in solidifying press freedom compared to.” previous years
This significant conclusion is drawn from the Monitoring and Documentation Office of Violations in the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, which issues its annual report covering a full year of incidents committed by various parties involved in the Syrian conflict within a specific geographical area, in accordance with the network’s vision, policy, and fundamental system, along with its methodology in monitoring and documentation. The report highlights ongoing violations by Turkey, the occupying force, in several Kurdish cities (Afrin, Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, Girê Spî /Tell Abyad), its support for armed factions loyal to it, and its coverage of their violations due to escaping accountability year after year. The targeting and killing of journalists by Turkey serve as clear evidence that it disregards reports from organizations confirming its continuous targeting of infrastructure and civilian areas naturally covered by journalists with the result that they pay heavy prices for practicing their profession and their role in uncovering the truth, despite some professional safety measures within
acceptable limits in the recent period
The report documented a total of 10 violations throughout the year against journalists and media institutions, includes four cases of arrest, one of which occurred outside the areas of autonomous administration. There was an incident where a journalist team was targeted, resulting in the death of the team’s driver and serious injuries to a female journalist within the same targeted incident, two cases involved threats of liquidation and defamation, one arbitrary dismissal from work, and the closure of a single media outlet with the arrest of four of its staff (administrators and journalists), which the Monitoring Office considered in the case of documentation to be one violation, firstly, for not obtaining accurate information throughout the follow-up period that extended for two months, and secondly, due to conflicting narratives. The network also documented, in its annual reports over the past four years, 51 cases of seizing homes and properties of journalists in areas (Afrin, Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, Girê Spî /Tell Abyad, and Tell Tamir) by Turkish forces occupying those regions with Syrian factions loyal to them, constituting ongoing violations by these parties
The Monitoring and Documentation Office in the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network states: “The reduction in the percentage of violations by local authorities is a positive development that can be built upon, and collaborating with media entities affiliated with the self-administration, especially the Media Department and the Free Media Union, is crucial in working towards enhancing press freedom, freedom of opinion and expression, in accordance with international laws and standards, ensuring equal access to information for all journalists without preferring one person over another, or one media outlet or institution over another
The network also emphasizes, in its annual reports every year, the unknown fate of the journalist colleague, Farhad Hamo, a correspondent for “Rudaw” channel for the tenth consecutive year. He was abducted by ISIS terrorists on 15/12/2014, and his case remains unresolved despite calls from his family on the anniversary of his abduction, demanding disclosure of the fate of the forcibly disappeared, the network is also still committed through its documentation to exposing the violations committed against journalists in the occupied cities – and they are still continuing – who were forcibly displaced from them, and whose property, including homes and agricultural lands, was seized by Turkey and the factions loyal to it, as their number reached 50 cases of violation according to documentation of the network
The report also provides figures from some international friendly organizations, foremost among them “Reporters Without Borders,” regarding violations on a global level, and also in Syria as a single geography, which declined overall according to the organizations themselves, and then compares these global figures with the regions monitored by the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, whose aim to secure a broader environment for press freedom and play a positive role in reducing violations rather than restricting them, in collaboration with independent media frameworks operating in the areas of the Democratic Autonomous Administration firstly, and then with media and union entities operating there secondly, all in a manner that serves everyone without exception
To read the full report, please go to the attached file link
The Annual Report of the Monitoring and Documentation Office for Violations in the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network for the year 2023
A significant decrease in the intensity of violations as a significant step in enhancing press freedom
Introduction
Since its establishment, the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network has affirmed that freedom of opinion and expression is an unassailable right, and this right is the foundation and starting point of freedom of the press, so this right cannot be compromised, even if there is a reduction in the scale of violations compared to previous years, as observed in the annual report that we have in our hands for the year 2023, which monitors and documents cases of violations against some journalist colleagues and media institutions , which were decreasing and increasing according to the intensification of the Syrian conflict and the control of multiple parties and factions over large areas, in addition to the emergence of the terrorist organization “ISIS” and its control over extensive regions in northern and eastern Syria up to the Iraqi border, along with the ongoing Turkish occupation of Syrian Kurdish cities and the displacement of their residents, including numerous journalist colleagues who lost their homes and properties after being seized by armed factions loyal to them, or the so-called National Army, which showed no respect for the slightest freedoms and human rights, posed a blatant challenge to international conventions. These violations were sufficient for the Autonomous Administration to take action or attempt to present a different image from the rest of the “de facto authorities” at this stage,
and take into account the work of all independent media outlets – written, electronic, visual and audio – and seek to alleviate the restrictions that impede their work according to media laws and their executive regulations, despite some reservations about certain articles that require modification in accordance with new procedures and laws issued by the responsible authorities in the administration, this ensures the freedom and independence of the media, access to information, and the freedom of union and professional organization, as the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network is considered one of its pillars and among the first journalistic union organizations in the region
The conflict situation in Syria and Iraq has subjected journalists and media professionals to the worst forms of targeting during their coverage of the ongoing events throughout the years of the ongoing conflict, including assassinations, imprisonment, and arrests, not ending with a ban on work and the confiscation of equipment, and this is what was confirmed by periodic international reports that hundreds lose their lives in war zones and armed conflicts, and it was no secret that many were intentionally targeted with live bullets, as a result of their work and practice of the journalism, despite some journalists adhering to safety measures, which was a key factor in the global decline in numbers, but the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the network publishes successively as part of one of its projects, has not yet been fully implemented by governments, which has allowed various violations, including assassination, murder, threats, exile, arbitrary dismissal, physical assault, prevention from work, detention without legal basis, targeting of media institutions, and finally, the seizure of journalistic equipment)
?Why documentation
The Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network has consistently issued its annual reports on the state of freedoms in the Kurdish regions, no matter how small the extent of the violations committed, independently and professionally, and without siding with any party under any circumstances or pressure, or fear of presenting the truth as it is, despite the presence of all parties. There is a conflict in this geographical area in the northeast and various regions of the Democratic Autonomous Administration. What has increased the difficulty of the monitoring and documentation team’s mission in recent years is the direct Turkish intervention in some regions and its occupation of important Kurdish cities (Afrin, Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, Girê Spî /Tell Abyad). ), and the continuation of Turkish military air and ground operations with its armed factions, which in turn committed many violations against journalists, detaining homes and property belonging to them, in addition to huge losses among civilians, and these attacks did not distinguish between civilians and military personnel, or Journalist, as happened in past years, whether through warplanes or drones, which this year targeted the crew car of the “Jin TV/Women” satellite channel on the road between Qamishlo and Amuda, which led to the death of the driver and serious injuries to a journalist who was on a mission. He worked to prepare a report for the channel. All of this happened due to lack of accountability and impunity. Therefore, protecting journalists and defending and promoting their rights constitutes one of the main goals of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, because non-compliance with international standards for protecting workers in the media field weakens the efforts of organizations defending them, and this is what the Office for Documenting and Monitoring Violations in the Network does by monitoring The violations occurring in the Kurdish regions, and providing facts and evidence to international organizations and public opinion, in order to change the policies, practices, and behaviors that reinforce the violation by all parties, especially the areas where the network’s members and their media colleagues are located, which are difficult to reach from other human rights and media organizations. The work of the press there is greatly restricted, due to the difference in the identity of the parties of control
Summary of Violations in 2023 in the Democratic Autonomous Administration Regions
The documentary work on violations occurring in Syria, or any place in the world, is considered one of the most crucial tasks for establishing the degree of journalistic freedoms, and this report, covering the entire year 2023, is issued by the Monitoring and Documentation Violations Office of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, repeatedly and for several years the dark reality of violations committed against journalists and media institutions in the Autonomous Administration Regions of northern and eastern Syria, which declined significantly this year, as the office documented 10 violations against journalists and media institutions, including four cases of arrest, one of which occurred outside the Autonomous Administration Regions, one case of killing resulting from the targeting of journalistic crews, where a driver of the journalistic team was killed, and one female journalist was seriously injured as part of the same targeting, two cases of threats of liquidation and defamation, one case of arbitrary expulsion from work, and the closure of one media outlet with the arrest of four of its staff (administrators and journalists), which the Monitoring Office considers this closure as one documented violation due to the inability to obtain accurate information during the two-month monitoring period, as well as conflicting narratives. Furthermore, the network has documented in its annual reports over the past four years 50 cases of seizing homes and properties of journalists in areas (Afrin, Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, Girê Spî /Tell Abyad, and Tell Tamir) by Turkish forces that occupy those areas with Syrian factions aligned with them, as continuous violations by these parties. The following are cases of violations committed in areas of the Democratic Autonomous Administration
On Sunday, the 26th of February 2023, a masked group wearing military uniform arbitrarily arrested colleague Guran Abdulbaqi Azm, a member of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network and one of its working committees, and a former member of its executive office, while he was present in his store at the main market in Qamishli city, he was forcibly taken to an unknown location without clarifying the reasons for his arrest
He was released after 50 days of detention without any charges being filed against him or being referred to trial
Colleague Fadel Mohammed was arbitrarily dismissed from work after filing an official complaint against the media outlet, this came following the breach by the “Media Outlet management” of the agreement previously made between them, resulting in his suspension from work without any justifiable reason. It is worth noting that he had received a personal invitation to work, asserting that the termination process is not legal because it is not related to competence and professional experience but rather appears to be malicious. The colleague did not mention the name of the media outlet publicly to avoid accusations of defamation or harm towards any person or institutional entity he may have worked with
An armed group affiliated with the security department of the Democratic Autonomous Administration arrested journalist Mohammed Zaki Hussein, known in the media as “Barzan Leyanî,” in the town of Girkê Legê/Al-Maabadah, located in northeastern Syria, on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023, and he was taken to an unknown location
He was released after spending 45 days in detention, without revealing the authority that issued the arrest order and the reasons behind it. With the note that this is not the first time, as “Layanî” has previously been subjected to arrest on several occasions
Journalist Lamar Arkandi faced attacks and defamation on social media platforms, as well as through private messages, over the course of several days in August 2023, which escalated to the extent of death threats and liquidation after she published an investigative report on the “Al Arabiya Net” website titled “Al-Nusra Imposes (Its State) … No Mixing in Idlib, and Prisons for sex-slaves.” Some voices associated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham called for issuing an arrest warrant against her in both Turkey and opposition-held areas, followed by her liquidation in Idlib. Beyond personal threats to the journalist, some messages extended to hate speech and incitement to violence against specific ethnic groups, blurring the distinction between the right to freedom of opinion and expression and provocative messages
On Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, a drone belonging to the Turkish army targeted a car carrying journalists working for the “Jin TV/Women” satellite channel on the road between Qamishli and Amuda in northern and eastern Syria, resulted in the death of the driver and their employee, Najm Al-Dîn Feysal
On Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, a drone belonging to the Turkish army targeted a car carrying journalists working for the “Jin TV/Women” satellite channel on the road between Qamishli and Amuda in northern and eastern Syria, resulted in the serious injury of the channel’s correspondent, Delila Agid, who was subsequently admitted to intensive care at a hospital in Qamishli
Journalist Jindar Abdulqadir was arrested on September 23rd, 2023, after being summoned by the internal security forces, known as “Asayish,” in Qamishli, to investigate about a matter regarding the confiscation of his journalistic equipment. However, the summoning process extended into a 12-day detention period, after which he was released on October 3rd, 2023
There were conflicting Information and narratives regarding the closure of the “Baz” news agency and the number of detained journalists in Al-Hasakah city on August 27th, 2023, close sources only revealed the name of the channel’s director, Ahmed Al-Ajour, amidst unconfirmed accusations, and after more than two months of monitoring, a channel administrator disclosed for the first time that the arrests included the director of the agency, Ahmed Al-Ajour, and journalists Malhem Al-Maeishi, Nidal Aliwi, and the office administrator Fahd Al-Ta’i, and all of the agency’s equipment was also confiscated
No official statement, either affirming or denying, has been issued by the relevant authorities in the Autonomous Administration in response to the information provided by the agency’s administrator to institutions and human rights organizations advocating for the freedom of journalists
The security forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq arrested journalist Sleiman Ahmed, who works as an editor in the Arabic section of the “Roj News” news agency, on October 25th, 2023. This occurred as he was crossing from northern and eastern Syria through the Fishkhabour border crossing into the Kurdistan Region, following the end of his vacation spent with family in Aleppo, Syria
According to a statement issued by the Asayish/Internal Security of Duhok Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the arrest was based on other “political” activities he was allegedly engaged in illegally, not due to his journalistic work, and he would be transferred to court and dealt with according to the law, and he still remains in detention
On December 26, 2023, colleague Ivan Hassib became the target of a defamation campaign on various public and private pages, these posts were reposted numerous times on public pages and groups, carrying a threatening and provocative tone, accusations were directed at him without any evidence or documents to substantiate their accuracy. This campaign coincided with Hassib’s coverage of Turkish attacks and their targeting of northeastern Syria, in addition to addressing service-related issues related to citizens’ demands and shedding light on the challenging economic conditions faced by the region’s residents, due to the number of his followers, estimated at about 150 thousand people. It is worth noting that this is not the first time he has faced similar campaigns, as he has been targeted in previous instances, mostly by individuals and pages supportive of the Autonomous Administration according to the content of these pages
UNESCO stated in its 2022 releases that the global rate of impunity for crimes committed against journalists remains shockingly high at 86 percent. The organization renewed its call for taking all necessary measures to ensure proper investigations into crimes against journalists, identifying and condemning the perpetrators. In this context, the network continues to highlight the violations committed against journalist colleagues who have been forcibly displaced from their cities, had their properties confiscated, and no progress has been made in this file due to the continued occupation, allowing Turkey to go unpunished, enabling it to persist in committing further violations, including the destruction of infrastructure
The retreat at the global level as well
In its annual report on the number of detained journalists, casualties, hostages, and missing individuals worldwide during the year 2023, the organization “Reporters Without Borders” noted a total of 45 deaths, which is the lowest number of fatalities among media practitioners who lost their lives in the line of duty by December 1st, 2023, despite the tragic situation in the Middle East
It was noteworthy that the security measures adopted by media institutions, the training of their reporters and employees, providing them with necessary protective equipment, exercising caution, and vigilance played a significant role in reducing the number of fatalities among journalists in various parts of the world while performing their professional activity or according to the nature of their work, in 2023, at least 45 journalists were killed in the course of their work, while the number in last year was 61 journalists. “Reporters Without Borders” attributed this gradual decline in the number of journalists killed during their professional activities over the past five years partially to the reinforcement of safety measures among journalists, in addition to the end of the deadliest phases of armed conflict in Iraq and Syria, where about 600 journalists were killed while covering ongoing events in the field between 2003 and 2022
In the numbers term, the final toll for the year 2023 was the killing of 45 journalists, with the continued imprisonment of 521 journalists behind bars in various parts of the world for unlawful and arbitrary reasons related to the nature of their work and profession. The number of journalist hostages also rose to 54 worldwide, while the number of journalists forcibly missing or disappeared reached 84, and the four violations (killing, imprisonment, hostages, missing) form the core of the annual report by Reporters Without Borders, while if we include all cases categorized according to the network’s monitoring and documentation methodology, the number could reach into thousands
Violations in the Syrian geography as a whole
The main characteristic of 2023 in general, was a decline in the volume of violations committed against journalists, both in the regions monitored by the network and globally, according to reports and data from “Reporters Without Borders,” as well as at the Syrian level based on the periodic reports issued by the Freedom Center in the Syrian Journalists Association. And according to the network’s perspective and its monitoring of freedom conditions, the reasons for the decline in violation rates can be attributed to the reduction in the intensity of conflicts and fighting among conflicting parties in the Syrian conflict on the one hand, and the decline in the number of journalist arrests and killings under torture in the prisons of the regime and its detention centers on the other hand, in addition to adherence to occupational safety measures emphasized by most unions and journalist associations in various countries of the world that are witnessing armed conflicts, as has been happening on Syrian territory since 2011 between regime forces, opposition factions, and radical organizations, which was one of the main reasons for the increase in violations in previous years, and according to the Freedom Center’s figures for this year, there were 35 violations committed in Syria, compared to 54 violations in the previous year. The total documented number of violations since 2011, the start of peaceful popular protests that turned into militarization, reached 1511 violations, this staggering number places Syria among the countries where journalists have been killed the most in conflict zones, while it is no longer among the most dangerous countries in the years 2021-2022-2023, this decline does not deny that Syria remains among the top three countries leading the list when considering journalists killed in the years preceding the last three years. This is not to mention the numbers of journalists who disappeared after their arrest by Syrian government forces or after being abducted by ISIS, with no acknowledgment of their existence in their respective detention facilities or announcements of death certificates for those killed under torture, many families still hope that they are alive despite years of abduction and exposure to the worst forms of torture. Referring to most reports and testimonies issued by survivors or presented to international courts, the majority of journalists who were assassinated and liquidated (65%) were deliberately and directly targeted, with no regard for international appeals and organizations advocating for press freedom
Seizing the properties of journalists in the occupied cities
International laws and reports issued by international organizations affirm that under the laws of war, in any part of the world, looting or forcibly seizing private property from homes and lands for personal use is prohibited. Indeed, such actions can be considered a “war crime” in the natural context of an area experiencing conflict or armed dispute. Therefore, the laws emphasize the prohibition of fighters seizing property for personal use, including those obtained under the pretext of sheltering their families. War laws also prohibit the destruction of properties not justified by security and military necessities. However, these laws have been completely violated in the three occupied cities by Turkey and the factions loyal to it, and they have shown no consideration for ensuring the rights of the owners who were forcibly displaced, including families and relatives of journalists
If we return to explain the principles of the UN ” Pinheiro ” and applying them to the situation of occupied cities, it is essential to first emphasize that the primary objective of declaring these principles is to assist concerned national and international entities in addressing legal and technical issues related to the restitution of real property in cases where individuals are arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived of their homes, lands, former properties, or habitual places of residence. The provisions of these principles apply equally to all refugees and displaced people who have been illegally deprived of their real property, regardless of the circumstances that originally led them to leave their original areas
Therefore, everything that happened contrary to international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law and therefore, the removal, occupation, or destruction of personal and private properties of the displaced individuals can pose a serious obstacle to their return
According to the principles, whether the refugee or forcibly displaced person desires to return to their original place of residence or not, this does not deprive them of their right to reclaim their property in that location, and based on this safeguarded right according to international laws, the Monitoring and Documentation Office of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network has documented cases of violations received regarding fellow journalists in cities (Afrin, Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, Girê spî /Tell Abyad, and Tell Tamir), which represent a breach of Turkey’s “false” legal commitments in international meetings and conferences regarding Syria, as it is the occupying force, and its daily shelling of these areas and their outskirts is nothing but provocation and a violation leading to more civilian casualties. No international party has committed to its legal responsibility in punishing the violators, and this contributing to the escape of everyone from accountability
According to the annual reports of the network for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, 50 cases of seizure of homes and properties of journalists have been documented as follows: in the Afrin region, there were 20 cases; in Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn 28 cases; in Girê spî /Tell Abyad one case; and also a case in Tell Tamir. These properties were distributed among the families of armed groups and some Iraqi families. It is worth noting that every year, some forcibly displaced individuals’ names are not mentioned to protect the lives of their relatives affiliated with armed factions and to avoid persecution by Turkey, and some individuals who were forcibly displaced had their properties seized, while others intentionally avoided it to preserve the rest of their properties. The following are the seized properties in the city of Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn
The “Sultan Murad division,” one of the factions of the National Army, seized the house of the journalist Sherin Muhammad Ali Shaker’s family in the city of Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn and converted it into a military barracks on October 17th, 2019
The house of the journalist Sardar Mlla Drwish, the General Manager of the “ASO” News Network
The house of the journalist Muhyedin Isso, who works with various local, Arab, and international media outlets, has been converted into a school for memorizing the Quran in the presence of the governor of Urfa, Turkey
The house of the photojournalist Rody Said, a photographer for Reuters news agency
The house of the journalist Abdulhalim Sulaiman Abdulhalim, the Arab section correspondent for “The Independent” newspaper, and a program presenter on ARTA Radio
The house of the journalist Orhan Kamal, a correspondent for the Ezdina website
The house of the journalist Alaa Al-Rubaie, a correspondent for the “ASO” News Network and an editor at the “Taa Morbouta” Foundation
The house of the journalist Izzadin Saleh, who previously worked as a correspondent for ARTA Radio
The house of the photojournalist Haitham Haji, a photographer for “Kurdistan24” channel, who has been subjected to direct threats and blackmail
The house of the journalist Hasan Abdullah, who used to work as a correspondent for the KNN channel, was forcibly displaced to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq after losing all his properties. Armed factions seized everything his family owned, burning a portion of it. He currently resides temporarily in the city of Qamishli
The house of the journalist Hussein Zido, a former correspondent for the KNN channel and the “North Press” agency, was forcibly displaced to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq after armed factions seized all his properties
The house of the journalist Hisham Arafat, who works as a news coordinator with several international media outlets, in addition to his role as an English news editor on the Kurdistan 24 channel’s website
The house of journalist Shiyar Mohammed in Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, a reporter for “Zagros” channel in the city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The house of journalist Salman Mano, a correspondent for the “ASO” News Network
The house of journalist Alan Osman in Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, who has worked with various local and international agencies
The house of journalist LiLoz Hekari in Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, presenter of programs on “Washo Kani” radio
The family house of journalist Shera Ossi, presenter of programs on “Von FM” radio, and a former reporter for “Rojava” television
The house of journalist Sherin Naman, a former reporter for ARTA FM radio
The house of Sipan Musa, a reporter for ARTA FM radio
The house of journalist Nuri Khalil, the sports section reporter for ARTA FM radio
The house of journalist Rudi Ayo, ARTA FM radio
The house of photojournalist Yusuf Bro
The house of photojournalist and filmmaker Azad Avdiki
The house of photojournalist Sheikh Hamu
The house of journalist Sleiman Al-Taweel, a reporter for “Ronahi” channel in Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn
The house of photojournalist Diyar Muaw
Syrian factions loyal to Ankara seized the properties of most journalists at “Washo Kani” radio
The factions of the “National Army” seized the house of our colleague Rizwan Rashid Osman, “Ridwan Bizar,” and his family’s house in the city of Tel Abyad/Gri Spi, in addition to another house in the village of “Sosek,” which was converted into a military headquarters. The journalist Ridwan Bizar works as a reporter for “Kurdistan24” channel and has previously received numerous death threats and intimidation due to his journalistic work
The seizure of the house of our colleague Salman Salman, a member of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, took place on 10/10/2019, in the village of Dadoudia, located in the occupied city of Serê Kaniyê /Ras Al-Ayn, and was forcibly displaced with his family by the armed factions affiliated with the Turkish occupation
The armed opposition factions allied with Turkey seized the house of the journalist Idris Abdullah, known in the media as “Dilyar Jiziri,” in the village of Rashidiyah, administratively affiliated with the town of Tell Tamir. The armed group did not limit itself to the house but also took control of their agricultural land, estimated at 5 hectares, along with the surface well and all its equipment
Continued forced displacement under the threat of arrest and execution by the factions of the “Syrian National Army” occupying the city of Afrin for the following colleagues
The forced displacement of journalist Mohammed Belo, a former reporter for “Kurdistan24” TV and “Rozana” radio, due to threats received from armed factions and the seizure of his house in Afrin. He continues to receive ongoing threats of liquidation from Turkish accounts
Continued forced displacement of journalist Jihad Abdo, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency, from Afrin after his life was endangered
Continued forced displacement of journalist Roj Musa, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency, after receiving threats from elements affiliated with armed factions
Continued forced displacement of journalist Newroz Rasho, a reporter for “Voice of America” and a correspondent for the American channel “Alhurra,” following threats
Continued forced displacement of journalist Ahmad Qatma, a former reporter for the “Smart” agency, to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, due to threats from Syrian factions loyal to Ankara
Continued forced displacement of journalist Ahmad Shafee Bilal, who previously worked with a Russian news agency
Continued forced displacement of journalist Norhat Hassan, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency
Continued forced displacement of journalist Sido Ebo, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency
Continued forced displacement of journalist Mizgin Gorsiye, a reporter for “Ronahi” channel, and the seizure of her house in Afrin
Continued forced displacement of journalist Jafar Cavo, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency, and the seizure of his house by some settlers
Continued forced displacement of journalist Terast Judi, a reporter for the “Hawar” News Agency, and the seizure of his house by armed individuals
Continued forced displacement of journalist Mounzer Sheikho, a former reporter for “Ronahi” channel, and the seizure of his house by armed individuals
Continued forced displacement of journalist Memo Hassan, who previously worked for “Ronahi” newspaper
Continued forced displacement of journalist Salah Ibo, who previously worked for “Ronahi” newspaper
Continued forced displacement of journalist Jiyar Haji, who previously worked for the “Hawar” agency and is currently with the “Rudaw” media network
Continued forced displacement of journalist Idris Hennan, who works for “Ronahi” newspaper
Continued forced displacement of journalist Hassan Tahsin Nasir, who previously worked for “Ronahi” newspaper
Continued forced displacement of photojournalist Zakaria Sheikho, who works as a photographer for “Ronahi” TV
Continued forced displacement of journalist Sherif Mohammad, who previously worked for “Ronahi” TV
Continued forced displacement of journalist Hassan Qosho, who works with “Rojava” television
Conclusion
The purpose of the international agreement concerning the safety of journalists and other media professionals and their independence is to enhance, protect, and ensure the safety of journalists and other professionals working in the media during times of peace and armed conflicts, and aims to protect their ability to practice their profession freely and independently in a supportive environment, without being subjected to harassment, intimidation, or physical harm
For this reason, all parties have affirmed their commitment under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to protect the freedom of opinion and expression for all, recognizing this right as a fundamental requirement for the progress and growth of a democratic society governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights, and recognizing that the work of a free, independent, and impartial press constitutes one of the main foundations of a democratic society
The agreement emphasizes the importance of providing maximum protection to all media workers and journalistic sources, ensuring that national security, including the fight against terrorism, is not used as a pretext to restrict freedom of opinion and expression without justification or arbitrarily, and the obligation with international humanitarian law, as reiterated in UN Security Council Resolution 1738 (2006) and UN Human Rights Council Resolution 27/5 dated September 25th, 2014, regarding the safety of journalists, and considering journalists and media professionals performing hazardous journalistic tasks in conflict areas as civilians, respecting and protecting them in that capacity. While also acknowledging a specific provision regarding the risks faced by women journalists and female media professionals in the performance of their duties, especially when reporting from conflict zones, and emphasizing the importance of adopting an approach that considers gender in measures aimed at addressing the safety of journalists. Always refers to the Geneva Conventions dated August 12, 1949, and the Additional Protocols dated June 8th, 1977, particularly Article 79 of the first additional protocol relating to the protection of journalists performing hazardous journalistic tasks in areas of armed conflict
This is where the statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, comes in, saying: “The extent of impunity for attacks against journalists and other media workers is unacceptable,” affirming that the media, whether in real or virtual life, serve as oversight bodies and early warning systems for a wide range of potential human rights violations, “this is precisely the reason journalists are often targeted with threats, violence, and even murder. Because their work is of utmost importance in supporting human rights for all of us,” this emphasizes the recommendation at the conclusion of the report to establish occupational safety training for journalists in a practical manner and not limiting training to theoretical aspects only in workshops organized by unions and media institutions, most of which unfortunately tend to be theoretical. Additionally, it stresses the importance of exercising constant caution during any journalistic coverage and avoiding proximity to hotspots witnessing direct confrontations, this is because, no matter how valuable the information and coverage may be, they will ultimately not be more important than the safety of the journalist. This recommendation reinforces the necessity of not fully relying on journalistic protection tools, despite tempting offers and promises from protective entities, and adhering to laws that protect and preserve the journalist’s life, considering them foundational in solidifying enhanced press freedom as part of self-regulation, whether through their media outlet or in their personal use of social media platforms, and finally, we emphasize the old-new recommendation that is repeated every time due to its importance, regarding the formation of a committee that includes representatives of press unions and associations, representatives of major media institutions, and civil society, in the form of an independent “lobby,” within conditions and controls agreed upon by the participating parties, in order to implement Its tasks and recommendations are assigned to it independently and without pressure from any party, so that the process of “holding journalists accountable” regarding any “supposed” violation of the ethics of the journalistic profession is left primarily to the professionals in this committee, away from any influence outside the scope of the media and other security departments, further reinforcing the Journalistic Code of Honor and the ethics of the journalism profession
Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network
The Monitoring and Documentation Office for Violations
Qamishli: 12/1/2024
