Syria cancels accreditation of BBC journalists
DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has withdrawn the accreditation of two local journalists working for the BBC. The Ministry of Information accused the BBC of engaging in false and politicized reporting.
The ministry said the accreditations were withdrawn after it noticed subjective and false information being spread about Syria.
The BBC said its Arabic news service reports impartially and independently. The move comes amid an increasing crackdown on independent media in Syria.
The country ranks 175th out of 180 on a press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
Experts said the BBC’s report on trafficking in the drug Captagon may have been a reason for the journalists’ accreditation being revoked.
The report alleged the Syrian government was involved in the drug’s production and export.
Syria has denied any involvement in the Captagon trade.
Maher al-Assad, the head of the Syrian Army’s Fourth Division and the president’s brother, has been named a key figure in the trade, by Western powers.
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