Official Newspaper In Syria Makes A Comeback 5 Years After Assad's Ban

For the first time in five years, Syria on Monday published the first print issue of the official Al Thawra Al Souriya newspaper.

During the launch ceremony, Information Minister Hamza Mustafa said he wanted the newspaper to be “a mirror to people’s pain, their daily lives and their hopes in a space of free discussion”.

According to AFP, Al Thawra Al Souriya, meaning “the Syrian revolution” in Arabic, will replace Al Thawra, which was an Assad-era state newspaper.

Former President Bashar al-Assad had stopped printing dailies during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing rising printing costs and distribution challenges.

During his rule, freedom to press was heavily restricted with strict security control on content and regular harassment of journalists.

When Syria’s new authorities took over, they relaunched pre-existing outlets, including state media such as news agency SANA, and private publications have been allowed to operate, AFP reported.

According to Atlantic Council, the first state-sponsored television news channel to air in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime went live on May 5, opening with a panel discussion between the governor of Suwayda and two prominent Druze leaders on the governorate’s ongoing security crisis.

During Assad’s regime, most Syrians instead relied on Facebook to obtain local news and avoid censorship.

Assad was overthrown by Ahmed al-Sharaa, former al-Qaeda commander and current Syrian President, last December.