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February 17, 2026 – Syria –
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for immediate and concrete action to improve safety for media workers in Syria, warning that journalists covering the prolonged conflict continue to face grave risks — including threats to their lives, freedom, and basic human rights. The appeal, issued in early February 2026, urges Syrian authorities and all parties to the conflict to recognise journalist protection as a national priority and uphold international norms safeguarding press freedom.
In its press release, the IFJ highlighted a pattern of violence, intimidation, and harassment against journalists reporting across Syria’s diverse and often dangerous frontlines. Journalists there face a range of threats, including arbitrary detention, assault by armed groups, bombardment of reporting locations, threats against family members, and digital surveillance aimed at suppressing independent voices. The organisation emphasised that these patterns not only violate civil liberties but also undermine the public’s right to information amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The federation stressed that journalists are entitled to protection under international humanitarian law, regardless of which groups control territory or infrastructure. This includes guarantees that media professionals will not be targeted for exercising their duties, the right to safe passage, and unfettered access to cover conflict and civilian conditions. IFJ also reiterated that intimidation tactics — including arrests and legal action framed as security offences — are frequently used to curb critical reporting and must cease immediately.
In its appeal, IFJ leaders urged Syrian government officials, opposition forces, and foreign military actors to adopt and enforce clear protective measures for journalists. These measures include training security personnel to recognise and respect press credentials, establishing rapid response mechanisms for threatened journalists, and permitting impartial investigations into attacks against media workers. Press freedom advocates also called on international bodies, including the United Nations and regional organisations, to support accountability efforts and reinforce protective frameworks in conflict zones.
The IFJ release comes amid mounting global concern about the deteriorating conditions for journalists in Syria, where censorship, violence, and legal repression have steadily eroded independent reporting for more than a decade. By framing journalist protection as a key human rights issue and a barometer of broader civic freedoms, the organisation highlighted that safeguarding media workers is essential to transparency, accountability, and the broader pursuit of peace.
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