Statements from organizations like the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International

Syria's New Information Minister Promises Free Press and Freedom of Expression

Jan 1, 2025, 08:31 AM

Syria's new Information Minister, Mohamed al-Omar, has pledged to work towards a free press and ensure freedom of expression in the country, following decades of media suppression under the former regime. Speaking to AFP, al-Omar emphasized the commitment to rebuilding a Syrian media landscape that is free, objective, and professional. He reassured journalists who worked under the ousted President Bashar al-Assad's regime but refused to be tools of propaganda that they would be welcomed back to their positions. Al-Omar also expressed intentions to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate the work of foreign media teams, marking a significant shift from the previous regime's stringent control over media activities. The minister's statements come as part of broader efforts by the new transitional government to stabilize the country and reassure its diverse ethnic and religious minorities, as well as visiting Western and Arab diplomatic delegations.