Syrian Blogger calls for dismissal of leading media figures

Syrian activists do not trust Syrian State Media.

SMN No. 16, April 3, 2011

The Syrian blogger “Freelancitizen” called upon Syrian authorities to dismiss leading figures of the state media in Syria as well as the “Minister of Desinformation”, Mohsen Bilal.

The blogger argues that the Syrian state media, in particular the Syrian News Agency Sana and the Syrian State Television “are participating in covering up the shootings of Syrian civilian protesters”. In his post, he accuses Minister Bilal whose official title is “Minister of Information” who according to him “does not hesitate to vilify journalists for no reason, sack media correspondents, prohibit the distribution of magazines and news papers, censor Syrian and non-Syrian media websites and issue laws to limit the freedom of visual, audio and printed media”.

The blogger who identifies himself as a Syrian journalist called upon his colleagues to “to avoid publishing [ ] false news which encourages sectarianism”.

Among international journalists, the Syrian Ministry of Information is infamous for arbitrarily refusing journalism visa and revoking licenses. The ministry tightly controls all Syrian media as well as the import of foreign media into Syria.