The Syrian Future Movement condemns in the strongest terms the shameful verbal assault against journalist and media consultant Zeina Shahla following her participation in a peaceful protest in front of the People’s Assembly in Damascus on Friday, July 18, 2025, under the slogan “The blood of Syrians is sacred to Syrians.”
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the accusation of “prostitution” against a respected female journalist, publicly and in a manner that evokes verbal violence, represents a serious setback in the path of public freedoms and women’s rights in Syria. It reveals the repressive mentality that continues to thrive on silencing free voices and tarnishing the reputation of all those calling for peaceful change.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on civil and human rights forces at home and abroad to declare a clear position on this blatant violation and to work to support freedom of expression and protect media personnel, particularly women, who bear the burden of change toward a state of law and institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement warns that continued impunity for such incidents will only lead to further moral and ethical collapse and create a fertile environment for the perpetuation of a culture of intimidation and defamation as a systematic method of managing public space.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the silence of society and institutions regarding these violations encourages their recurrence and perpetuates the suffering of every free-thinking person within Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms its full solidarity with our colleague Zeina Shahla and with all courageous civil voices, and views this attack as a true test of everyone’s commitment to the values of justice, freedom of speech, and human dignity.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its commitment to the path of peaceful change at all levels and presents this incident before the new era in Syria as further evidence of the magnitude of the risks that activists and journalists within Syria may face. It demands an independent investigation and immediate accountability for all those involved in this blatant attack.
