The Syrian Future Movement, along with all those who believe in human freedom and the dignity of the word, commemorates the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 68/163 of December 18, 2013. November 2nd was designated as an annual day to renew the global commitment to protecting journalists and ensuring justice for all those who have lost their lives or freedom in pursuit of truth.
This day comes at a critical juncture in Syria’s contemporary history, after Syrians turned the page on the long era of authoritarian rule and embarked on a challenging transition towards a just and equitable nation-state.
This transition places a heightened responsibility on everyone to protect freedom of opinion and expression, recognizing it as a cornerstone of the new legitimacy and a key to trust between the state and society.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that since 2011, Syria has paid a heavy price in the realm of free speech. Hundreds of journalists and activists have lost their lives or their freedom, and the media has been transformed into an arena of conflict instead of a space for knowledge and accountability.
Today, as we rebuild state institutions on just and civil foundations, ending impunity for these crimes is an integral part of the transitional justice process, without which peace cannot be achieved.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that protecting the press is a national priority, as it represents the people’s right to know the truth and the state’s right to be monitored and held accountable through peaceful and democratic means. Furthermore, building a state of law is incomplete without a free and responsible press.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement calls for the following:
- The swift adoption of a national charter for the protection of journalists and media professionals in all regions of Syria, guaranteeing their right to work and establishing an independent national body to monitor, investigate, and hold perpetrators accountable for violations.
- The inclusion of the murder and kidnapping of journalists within the jurisdiction of the Transitional Justice Commission, as crimes against society and its right to know.
- Cooperation between the transitional government and international organizations to ensure the safety of media professionals and to train security personnel and local authorities on respecting freedom of expression and the rights of journalists.
- Encouraging independent media in areas outside of conflict or division serves as a model for media freedom in the new Syria, especially given the challenges posed by the Autonomous Administration in the northeast and the tense situation in Suwaida. This reinforces the idea that free speech is a bridge to unity, not a tool for polarization.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the new Syria being formed today cannot be built on revenge or silence, but rather on knowledge, recognition, and accountability.
Fulfilling the sacrifices of Syrian journalists requires not lamentation, but establishing a system that protects those who come after them and enshrines freedom of speech as an inviolable constitutional value.
On this day, the Syrian Future Movement reaffirms its complete commitment to the principles of justice, freedom, and accountability, and to ensuring that Syria is a homeland that safeguards the word as it safeguards blood, and that truth becomes a covenant of honor between the ruler and the ruled.
