A new report by Women Without Chains, titled “Bloodstains on the Letters,” reveals the state of press freedom in Syria between 2011 and 2024, highlighting that the country is considered one of the worst places in the world for journalists to work.

The report explains that the Syrian regime, since the 1963 coup, has continued to suppress press freedom and criminalize public discourse, with complete impunity.

The report emphasizes how the Syrian revolution, which began in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring, turned into a battleground for journalists. They were targeted by the Syrian regime and other conflict parties, subjected to killings, arrests, torture, and forced into self-censorship.

It also examines the repressive legislative and legal frameworks governing journalists’ work, and the escalating violations during the conflict, drawing on open-source materials, human rights reports, and testimonies from journalists inside the country.

The report includes recommendations for decision-makers in Syria, the international community, and human rights organizations, calling for accountability for those responsible for violations and ensuring the protection of journalists and freedom of expression in Syria.

To download the report, click (here)