The Syrian Network for Human Rights condemned the detention of at least 16 media personalities and journalists, including two women, by raiding their locations in Raqqa city on July 30th, 2022.
According to the network, the media professionals work for several agencies and local institutions. Their detention was carried out through the intelligence service of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and they were accused of “espionage.”
The network pointed out that the SDF follows a policy similar to the Syrian regime in arrest operations. There are no arrest warrants, but arrests are made by kidnappings from roads, markets, and public places or by raiding the headquarters of media agencies and civil organizations without a judicial warrant.
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The network reported that detainees were prevented from communicating with their relatives or hiring a lawyer. They feared that they would be subjected to torture and that they would be forcibly disappeared–as did 85% of all detainees. Several detainees were severely beaten during the process of their arrest, and threats were directed at them.
Since the end of July 2022, the Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented the SDF’s escalation of arbitrary arrests/detentions, recruitment and the serious suppression of freedoms in areas under its control, which has been reflected in various aspects of life; The freedom of the press and political work has deteriorated for all critics of the SDF policy.
On Monday, the Aleppo Media Union and its countryside stated solidarity with a group of journalists who were attacked by civilian police in the al-Bab city branch of the eastern Aleppo countryside while covering a vigil for medical staff.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
