(Adnkronos) – The first print issue of the newspaper Al Thawra Al Souriya was published today in Syria, marking the return of state press in the Arab country after five years of suspension. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the publication of newspapers had been interrupted due to high costs and distribution difficulties. Al Thawra Al Souriya – which in Arabic means The Syrian Revolution – replaces Al Thawra, the historic official newspaper of the Assad era.
The Minister of Information, Hamza Mustafa, stated that the new newspaper aims to be “a mirror of daily life, the difficulties and hopes of the population, offering a space for free discussion”.
Under the Assad regime, the media was strictly controlled, with censored content and frequent pressure on journalists. State media exclusively disseminated the government’s narrative, while only a few private outlets, aligned with the authorities, were allowed to operate under strict control. The new Syrian authorities have relaunched pre-existing media outlets, including the state agency Sana, and have allowed the circulation of some private publications, marking a timid opening in the country’s media landscape.
