Executive Summary
The Assad regime ruled Syria for more than five decades through systematic repression, extrajudicial killings and severe restrictions on freedom of expression. Following Bashar al-Assad’s departure in December 2024, Syria entered a critical transitional phase marked by both unprecedented opportunities and major challenges in building a free, independent and sustainable media landscape.
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of media freedom and access to information in Syria. It is based on primary research and extensive analysis conducted between November 2025 and January 2026, including surveys, in-depth interviews and a review of more than a decade of reporting on Syrian media conditions.
Under the Assad regime, Syria ranked among the world’s worst countries for press freedom, fluctuating between 174th and 179th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index between 2011 and 2024. The regime relied on restrictive laws, arbitrary detention, surveillance, enforced disappearances and direct violence against journalists while maintaining total control over official media outlets.
Between March 2011 and May 2024, at least 717 journalists and media workers were killed. The Assad regime and its Russian allies were responsible for approximately 81% of these deaths. Journalists faced torture, imprisonment and execution, creating what many described as a “Kingdom of Silence.”
Following the political transition in 2024, the new Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa publicly committed to protecting freedom of expression and supporting a free press. Syria’s ranking in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index improved significantly to 141st place.
Despite these developments, major obstacles remain. The report found that:
- 72% of journalists consider economic hardship the main threat to independent journalism.
- 52% still practice moderate to high levels of self-censorship.
- 64% reported receiving threats from armed groups.
- 58% experienced online harassment and inadequate safety infrastructure.
The report concludes that international support remains essential to strengthen independent Syrian media through:
- legal reform,
- institutional development,
- journalist safety protections,
- professional training,
- and long-term economic sustainability.
It stresses that while Syria has entered a new phase with greater media openness, the transition toward genuine press freedom remains fragile and incomplete.
To read the full study, please visit the following link:
Ks8aLT-FINAL_The-New-Era-of-Media-Freedom-in-Syria
