Through my eyes: Fathers and Sons

When Bashar al-Assad came to power, Mohammad al-Abdallah believed things in Syria would finally change for good. Ten years later, he tells the story of a personal desillusionment. By Mohammad al-Abdallah Bashar Al-Assad has now been in power for 10 years. To me, that period equates to the length of time that members of my [...]

A Decade in Power, part 5 : Syrian Media should follow “the maestro’s stick”

Before 2000, the regime had total control over what was being published and broadcast in Syria. With the spread of satellite channels and later the Internet, journalists and ordinary citizens found a limited space of free expression. At the same time though, the crackdown on reporters continues. Many private media outlets have been shut or [...]

Political Prisoner Held After Jail Term

SMN No. 4, June 29, 2010 Syrian activists have launched online campaigns in support of a political prisoner who was kept in custody by authorities, despite completing a 30-month prison term. Ali al-Abdallah, a Syrian author and journalist and a member of the Damascus Declaration opposition group, completed his sentence on June 17. He was [...]