Terror group Islamic State (previously known as Isis) has issued 11 rules for journalists who work in the rebel-led area of Deir Ezzor, in eastern Syria.
The move comes after more than three months of violence, since the militants started their insurgence last June, in a bid to overthrow the Iraqi and Syrian governments and establish an Islamic caliphate.
The group already controls large swathes of the two countries.
IS issued the guidelines during a meeting with independent journalists to establish the media coverage after the terror group had gained control of the Deir Ezzor governorate, a journalist known only as Amer told independent media website Syria Deeply.
During the meeting, a list of non-negotiable conditions was issued for the journalists who still wished to work in the rebel-led governorate.
According to IS, reporters must:
1 – Swear allegiance to the Caliph [IS’ leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi and to their imam.
2 – Their work will be under the exclusive supervision of the IS media offices.
3 – Journalists can work directly with international news agencies (such as Reuters, AFP and AP), but they are forbidden to work with local satellite TV channels.
4 – Journalists are forbidden to work in any way with the TV channels placed on the blacklist of channels that fight against Islamic countries (such as Al-Arabiya, Al Jazeera and Orient). Violators will be held accountable.
5 – Journalists are allowed to cover events in the governorate with either written or still images without having to refer back to the IS media office. All published pieces and photos must carry the journalist’s and photographer’s names.
6 – Journalists are not allowed to publish any reportage (print or broadcast) without referring to the IS media office first.
7 – Journalists may have their own social media accounts and blogs to disseminate news and pictures. However, the IS media office must have the addresses and name handles of these accounts and pages.
8 – Journalists must abide by the regulations when taking photos within IS territory and avoid filming locations or security events where taking pictures is prohibited.
9 – IS media offices will follow up on the work of local journalists within IS territory and in the state media.
10 – The rules are not final and are subject to change at any time depending on the circumstances and the degree of cooperation between journalists and their commitment to their brothers in the IS media offices.
11 – Journalists are given a license to practice their work after submitting a license request at the IS media office.
Those who don’t abide to the rules will be suspended and held accountable, IS said.
According to Amer, after the meeting some journalists agreed to follow the new guidelines and those who refused fled the country.
Related