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January 15, 2026 – Syria –
Two press freedom organizations have issued strong condemnations after media workers in Aleppo, Syria, faced a hostile information environment that includes detentions, restricted reporting access, and widespread misinformation targeting journalists as Syrian government forces regain ground in formerly contested areas.
The Free Media Union (FMU) specifically criticised what it termed “media misinformation campaigns” designed to discredit and intimidate local and independent reporters in Aleppo, accusing pro-government outlets of spreading false narratives and undermining journalists’ credibility.
According to the FMU, these misinformation efforts create a climate of mistrust and risk for media personnel operating in an already volatile conflict zone, and they call for accurate, context-based reporting free from manipulation.
The concerns echoed by the FMU parallel reports by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which detailed how several journalists were detained or barred from reporting in areas of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah in Aleppo after Syrian government forces reasserted control.
CPJ said that two journalists working for the Kurdish outlet Rudaw were briefly held on alleged terrorism charges before being released, and that independent reporters more broadly were prevented from accessing key areas, while state-aligned media were allowed entry. CPJ described this as a troubling effort to control the narrative and limit independent coverage, undermining the public’s right to reliable information during shifts in military control.
Together, the FMU and CPJ statements highlight a deteriorating environment for journalists in Aleppo, where physical and informational pressures combine to restrict press freedom. Both organizations are urging Syrian authorities and all armed actors to respect journalists’ rights and ensure that they can work safely, without fear of detention, misinformation attacks, or narrative suppression, as part of broader calls for adherence to international humanitarian and human rights standards in conflict reporting.
References –
https://cpj.org/2026/01/journalists-detained-barred-in-syria-as-government-regains-aleppo-areas/amp/
