Syrian TV crew kidnapped by rebels

A Syrian TV news crew has been kidnapped while covering clashes between the Syrian army and rebel forces in the suburbs of Damascus.
Reporter Yarah Saleh, cameraman Abboud Tabarah, his assistant Hatem Abu Yehiah and driver Housam Imad were accompanying an army unit. They work for the pro-government television station al-Ikhbariya.   This report is the latest in our series on Syria:
Attacks on Journalists

The murder of journalists in Syria is becoming increasingly worrying. Since the beginning of this year, 32 journalists have lost their lives in Syria according to the International Press Institute’s Death Watch. The latest incidents were the murders of two Syrian journalists in Damascus, Ali Abbas and Bara’a Yusuf al-Bushi, which occurred on Saturday the 11th of August. Ali Abbas was killed at his home, with a SANA report blaming an “armed terrorist group” for killing their reporter, in reality meaning opposition members did it.
Indeed, there have been a number of attacks on pro-government media by Syrian opposition groups. Reporters Without Borders recently expressed grave concern at the disappearance of a pro-government TV crew working for Al-Ikhbariya. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the journalists had been kidnapped by a rebel faction.
Attacks on any non-combatant are disgraceful and should always be condemned, and journalists and their support teams are rightly protected by the international community under Resolution 1738 of the UN Security Council. However, what is worrying is the extent to which attacks on pro-government journalists are underplayed in Western discussions of the opposition. The problem is that in the West, we are often slow to criticise countries or groups that we support if they are fighting a country or group that we do not.
Fortunately, there are organisations that aim to be objective and protect journalists, whomever they might be reporting for. Reporters Without Borders has recently sent an open letter Free Syrian Army commander Riyad Al Asaad and Syrian National Council president Abdel Basset Sayda asking that they try and stop the attacks on journalists and on the ground news crews:
“Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that defends freedom of information, would like to share with you its deep concern about the growing number of acts of violence against Syrian journalists, including government and pro-government journalists.”
“The employees of Syria’s pro-government media are becoming the targets of abduction and murder with increasing frequency.”
“The Islamist group Al-Nosra announced on 3 August that it had executed Mohammad Al Saeed, a TV presenter who was kidnapped from his home in mid-July. Syrian government TV cameraman Talal Janbakeli was kidnapped in Damascus on 5 August by the Free Syrian Army’s Haroun Al-Rasheed militia. A crew working for Al-Ikhbariya, a privately-owned pro-government TV station, was captured by another FSA unit on 10 August.”
“The FSA and other components of the opposition must immediately and unconditionally release the journalists and media workers they are holding, including the Al-Ikhbariya crew members captured on 10 August.”
“...such behaviour is not only a violation of human rights and your international responsibilities but is also counter-productive, as it can only damage the Syrian opposition’s image in the eyes of the public and its international supporters.”
If the rebels inside Syria are to be seen as valid candidates to rule the country they must make clear that they do not tolerate the violation of human rights and support freedom of speech. No matter how much one disagrees with an opinion, everyone has the right to express what they believe. Attacks on journalists should stop immediately, and fundamentalist Islamic groups who have a history of abuses should be disowned by the mainstream internal opposition.

Razan Ghazzawi Released from Detention in Syria

Syrian Blogger Razan Ghazzawi has been released from a Syrian detention where she, along with thirteen others had been held since 16th February 2012. After three nights there, Ghazzawi and five other female colleagues were released and in her official statement from the 'Center for Media and Freedom of Expression' on 22nd February 2012,  she states that "those 3 nights at air security branch were the worst in comparison to my previous detention".
Ghazzawi was arrested along with others during a raid of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression office in damascus. This raid was carried out by members of the security apparatus, supported by several armed men which Ghazzawi describes to have "caused panic and fear among employees and visitors". The female employees who work at the centre, along with a visitor who was also arrested,  were released on saturday 18th February 2012. However, they are expected to show up at Air force Security everyday from 9AM untill 2PM for further investigation.
The Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression hold the Syrian authorities fully responsible for these events and are highly concerned about the employees who are still being detained.
The continuous arrests like that of Razan Ghazzawi, act as worrying reminders that even those who are trying to inform the public face great risks everyday. The lock down of journalist freedom in Syria has resulted in many arrests and a number of tragic deaths, showing the high levels of corruption and disorder in Syria that evidently need to be resolved as soon as possible.

Journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik killed in Homs

The latest string of violent attacks in the city of Homs has left around twenty people dead, including journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik. Ms Colvin and Mr Ochlik were reported to be staying in a house in the Baba Amr area which was being used by activists as a media centre in order to inform the world on the events which are occurring. Colvin was a well known foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times for two decades and was respected for her brave reporting in various war zones. Even after events in 2001, where shrapnel left Colvin with one eye, she carried on risking her life in order to report the most accurate and up to date events.
Twenty-eight year old Remi Ochlik was also deemed as a rising star within French photojournalism- winning first prize in the general news category of the prestigious 2012 World Press Photo contest less than two weeks ago. In a ceremony which honoured fallen journalists, Marie Colvin said that "our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice... Journalists covering combat shoulder great responsibilities and face difficult choices. Sometimes they pay the ultimate price."
The movements of the journalists which have actually been allowed into Syria are tightly controlled  by Information Ministry minders and many report that journalists are being unwelcomely treating by parties in Syria. Gordon Rayner, in his article for 'The Telegraph' relating to the deaths of the journalists today, wrote that:  'Reporters working in Homs, which has been under siege since Feb 4, have become increasingly concerned in recent days that President Bashar al-Assad's forces have locked on to their satellite phone signals and targeted the buildings they are coming from'.
UK Prime Minister, David Cameron has explained that "this is a desperately sad reminder of the risks that journalists take to inform the world of what is happening".
Thousands have died over the months during the violence against the rule of President Bashat al-Assad, and it is evident that no one in Syria is safe, including those who are bravely risking their lives in order to report these horrors. The tragic deaths of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik are sad reminders that Syria is in desperate need of a solution where this violence can be put to an end.

BBC want apology from Syrian TV Stations

BBC’s foreign editor, Jon Williams, insisted that Syrian TV stations Al Dunya and Al Ikhbaria owe the BBC an apology for their attacks on the institution’s honesty. These TV stations accused the BBC and its reporters of creating problems and fabricating stories which were not fully accurate.

Roy Greenslade in his article 'BBC demands apology from Syrian TV stations'- 23^rd January 2012 shows Jon Williams to be concerned about the intimidation which the staff from the BBC are facing in order to produce their reports. Now that foreign correspondents are allowed into the country, Williams argues that some of the blame lies with Government officials, saying "the Damascus authorities must allow our staff to do their job without them being intimidated".

Williams stresses that staff from the BBC work to show all sides of a report and in order for this to be carried out efficiently, “the intimidation of local staff must stop”.

Faked Al Jazeera Syria story

Abu Heitham Qasqos, who was quoted by Al-Jazeera as an eyewitness to the Jisr al Shagoor killings, said that the network offered him $200 and a meal and asked him to say what they wanted him to say. Abu Heitham disclosed his allegations with regard to the bribe on 29th November 2011 in an interview with Iran's Fars newsagency. This is one of a number of allegedly false reports by Al Jazeera at this time.
See this link

Provocative Sheikh's views aired

Safa TV, a Saudi satellite station, recently allowed known terrorist Sheikh Mohamed Al-Zoghbi to air his inflammatory, xenophobic and libellous views on their station.

The Sheikh lists horrific calamities he wishes to befall Bashar Al-Assad and calls on Allah to punish not only Bashar, but all the Al-Assad family as well as those who help and support them, referring to the whole family as an ‘infidel clique’, ‘criminals’ and ‘abusers’.

He then calls on the people of Syria, men, women, slaves and children to revenge themselves against them all and fight them with their ‘money, bodies and tongues’.

He says that the jihad against the Al-Assads is more important than that which Muslims should be waging against the Christians and even the Jews, referring to both religions as ‘infidels’ but stresses that Nusayris are greater infidels.

He closes by saying ‘Kill these unbelievers until you purify the earth from their filth’.

These comments should be strongly condemned as should Safa TV for allowing Sheikh Zoghbi to make them on their station.

Interview can be viewed here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi24WT7D2fg

Hamas to leave Damascus?

In May, Al Hayat reported that Hamas would be leaving Syria though this was later denied by Hamas officials who announced their intention to stay in Damascus both when this was first suggested by Al Hayat and again later in further interviews.

Al Hayat reported that Qatar had offered to act as host country to the Islamic insurgence group in early May despite the fact that it is well known that since 2007, Hamas have been attempted to move to the Gaza strip but have failed to so as they could not gain permission from authorities.

There were also alleged talks with Egypt and Jordan though both rejected Hamas’ proposals; Egypt did however agree to host a Hamas ‘interest bureau’ which was to provide fuel for future speculation.

Gaza based political security analyst Shaker Shabat reported to Gulf News that Hamas had been asked to leave Syria due to their unwillingness to support and defend the regime but this again has been categorically denied by Hamas. Gulf News later reported that the move had gone ahead. This too has been denied.

More recently, there have been new reports about Hamas' possible next moves. There are reports that Hamas have now received an offer from the Egyptian government and will be relocating completely. These reports came after an announcement made by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, confirming the move, heralding it as 'symbolic'.

Most publications still view these announcements as highly speculative as Hamas has only denied its move to Qatar and has yet to issue a statement on Egypt.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-hamas-leadership-to-relocate-from-syria-to-qatar-1.358956

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/palestinian-territories/hamas-move-linked-to-unrest-1.801944

http://www.thetrumpet.com/?q=8326.7014.0.0

Syrian Blogger Gaoled

This came in from RPS. It is very worrying:

Washington DC - September 23, 2009 - (GlobalVoicesOnline.org) -- On September 13, 2009, the Syrian State Security Supreme Court sentenced the young blogger Kareem Arbaji to three-years prison for “publishing mendacious information liable to weaken the nation's morale,” under article #286 of the Syrian penal code.

The thirty- one years old economics graduate, Kareem Arbaji, has been detained for over two years, since June 7th, 2007, by military intelligence officers.

Human Rights Reports reveal that Arbaji has been tortured during the detention:

Kareem Arbaji was detained before being tried, he received a cruel and disproportionate sentence even if he was convicted. He was tortured during investigations and ill treated for more than two years in prison.

It is likely that Arbaji has been arrested, detained and then sentenced for opinions he expressed on the blocked Syrian forum, Akhawiya, which he used to administrate along with other members. The forum members have created a page to honor and support their friend behind bars. A Facebook group too has been recently created in support of the jailed blogger. Several Syrian bloggers have expressed their anger at the court's order. The Arab bloggers league has also issued a statement denouncing Kareem's sentence.

Below is an excerpt of The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) report regarding the Syrian court's decision to sentence Kareem Arbaji:

ANHRI requests the Syrian government to immediately release Kareem Arbaji and all prisoners of conscience in Syrian dungeons, to abolish arbitrary detention policy and stop the security interference in judiciary affairs.

ANHRI asserts that the charge against Arbaji is a false one , only used as a pretext to inhibit freedom of expression and repress activists.

ANHRI also urges the Syrian government to eliminate the state security court as it is a stain to the Syrian justice.

Several Syrian and other human rights organizations and websites have joined ANHRI's call to release the jailed blogger.

It is worth to note that along with Kareem Arbaji, Syrian authorities sentenced several Syria bloggers in prison. On 11-5-2008 the State Security Court in Damascus stated its verdict on the Syrian blogger Tariq Biasi who was held in detention since 7-7-2007.

Press Freedom

Felix sent us this cartoon, which is one of a number relating to the arrest and detaention of journalists published in the Arab World for World Press Freedom Day. The above cartoon was published in Syria.

TO VIEW OTHERS CLICK HERE

Syrian Incitement

Anti-Semitic expressions in the Syrian media as part of the false incitement campaign about the earthworks at the Mugrabim Ramp in Jerusalem. This is yet another example of anti-Semitic incitement in Syrian government-controlled media. The Syrian regime makes no distinction between anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic incitement.

Full Text