Reports | 25 05 2020
Many journalists and media activists have become victims of the fighting taking place between the different military factions in Syria. Some have been killed by the regime’s artillery and aircraft, others have been executed by the Islamic State or other armed factions, and some are still missing.
Despite the dangerous situation, most media activists have not undergone any physical, digital or psychological safety training, and this is one factor that has contributed to their elevated mortality rate. The media activist, Ahmad al-Wardi, was one of those who lost their lives on the frontlines. He was killed, according to the photojournalist Muhammad Bayyoush, by a bullet during the fighting between the regime and the opposition in Karnaz. “More than 15 media activists have been killed by the Russian air raids. Photojournalists who cover battles are subject to many risks. They are targeted by different parties and by different types of weapons. It is most dangerous media activists when they cover the opposition attacks on the front lines,” Bayyoush said.
Bayyoush is one of the rare, lucky photojournalists who went through personal safety and professional photojournalism training. This training urges journalists to exercise high levels of caution, use strategic precision when choosing the place to shoot, always wear bullet proof vests, and teaches other tactical procedures.
No Clear Definition of War Correspondents in Syria
Many media activists did not undergo training courses in physical safety or in journalistic coverage of war zones. This is especially true in rural Damascus, due to the difficulty of travel following the siege imposed by the regime in eastern and western Ghouta.
"Hands-on training and covering the fighting is better than any theoretical training. Being inside the battle, following the developments, preparing interviews, and taking photos are the real training. This is how a media person learns,” said a media activist from eastern Ghouta to Rozana.
“We face many difficulties during our work. The smallest is when we try to upload a video on line. I have to be physically on the roof, moving the signal receiver until I get strong signal,” he added.
Three Difficulties
According to the media activist, Alaa al-Fatrawi, the most challenging three things that journalists in Syria face right now are difficult roads, fear and anxiety during battles, and the constant presence of aircraft during battle times.
“I attended a training session in war correspondence, and I learned a lot there. Intense and random bombing is the biggest challenge we face. Journalists should accompany military factions that they know and trust because they need protection from these factions,” he said.
In addition to the dangers mentioned above, Abu Firas al-Hamwi points out that due to lack of order and police presence, kidnapping is a new phenomenon that that journalists suffer from. Improvised Explosive Devices placed by unknown parties in the streets to target activists and military factions is another thing that puts journalists’ lives in danger. “Those devices have killed many activists. They are always on our minds when we cover any battle or when we move from one place to another,” Abu Firas said.
Assassinating Journalists
Many journalists have been assassinated in areas controlled by the opposition. While the perpetrators are unknown, many parties accuse the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra. The most recent assassination happened in rural Idlib and killed Ahmad Muhammad al-Musa, a member of the “al-Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” campaign in Idlib.
Jawdat Malas is a journalist who moved to Turkey because of the frequent harassment he encountered in opposition-controlled areas. “The regime always kidnapped activists and threatened to arrest or kill them. Over the last five years, the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra emerged, and they both apply the regime’s approach. The regime arrests activists under the accusation of “Undermining of the State’s Sovereignty,” and Jabhat al-Nusra arrests activists under the accusation of “Infidelity.” Many activists have been harassed, and Raed al-Farris is one of them,” Jawdat old Rozana.
Jawdat was arrested by Jabhat al-Nusra and spent two months in its prisons. He told Rozana that he was tortured because of some things that he had published online, and when he was released they confiscated all of his equipment. Jawdat believes that the military factions which harass activists are no better than the regime itself.
Many journalists, activists, and media workers inside Syria are still exposed to great danger every day, and according to the annual report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Syria and Iraq are the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.