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The reality of reporting in Syria

There was almost no press freedom in Syria during Bashar al-Assad鈥檚 rule. Now he鈥檚 stepped down, will free press return to the country?

During the last year of Bashar al-Assad鈥檚 rule of Syria, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country second to last in the World Press Freedom Index. The country was incredibly dangerous for journalists who had to manage strict government censorship. But in December 2024, Assad鈥檚 rule was toppled by a swift rebel offensive that took the capital city Damascus within a few days. The country then experienced a level of press freedom it hadn鈥檛 seen for decades. Dalia Haidar of 成人快手 Arabic worked as a journalist in Syria whilst Assad was in power, she joins us to describe what it was like and what the hopes are for the future. Plus, a tour of Chiclayo, the Peruvian city Pope Leo XIV used to call home, with Jos茅 Carlos Cueto from 成人快手 Mundo; and how a Ferrari flag became a symbol of protest, with Slobodan Mari膷i膰 from 成人快手 Serbian.

Presented by Faranak Amidi
Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Last Monday 02:32GMT

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  • Sat 24 May 2025 02:32GMT
  • Sat 24 May 2025 17:32GMT
  • Sat 24 May 2025 23:32GMT
  • Sun 25 May 2025 03:32GMT
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  • Last Monday 02:32GMT