Al-Qaeda abuses mount against journalists in Idlib

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Militant Tahrir al-Sham group has badly beaten and abused 13 journalists, including Zaman al-Wals reporter, who were covering a joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northern Idlib province on Wednesday.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the former al-Qaeda branch had also smashed  their equipment, preventing them from covering the patrol passage on the M4 highway that links between Latakia and Aleppo provinces.

Later on, most of Idlib activists have gathered in protest against mounting abuses by the de-facto ruler of Idlib.

Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by formerly-known Jabhat al-Nusra which is the dominant force in Idlib, has killed most of its opponents including citizen journalists and human rights advocates.

It has silenced most of its critics, local activists say.

Last Year, one of Tahrir al-Sham commanders threatened to kill journalists who were covering anti-HTS protests in the Idlib countryside.

In November 2018, Tahrir la-Sham killed Raed al-Fares and Hamoud Junaid, two prominent activists and citizen journalists, in the village of Kafrabel in northern Idlib province.

Omar Haj Qaddour- reporter for Agence France-Presse.SNHR has identified of the names of journalist who were subjected to physical and verbal abuse as following:

• Abdul Aziz Qetaz- works for Macro Media Center.
• Abdul Razzaq al Sbeih- reporter for Halab Today TV.
• Safi Hamam- reporter for al Jazeera Mubasher.
• Mu’ath Abbas- reporter for Baladi News.
• Ali Haj Suleiman- reporter for Shaam News Network.
• Ghaith al Sayyed- reporter for Shaam News Network.
• Kenanah Hindawi- reporter for Thiqa Agency.
• Abdul Wahed Haj Steifi- cooperating with an Agence France-Presse.
• Ezz al Din al Idlibi- working with Anadolu Agency.
• Muhammad al Saeed- working with Anadolu Agency.
• Mu’aweyah al Atrash- working with Middle East Press.
• Muhammad al Refa’i- working with Zaman al-Wasl Newspaper.

Source: Al-Qaeda abuses mount against journalists in Idlib | SYRIA NEWS | ZAMAN ALWSL