Syria withdraws accreditation of BBC journalists
DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has withdrawn the accreditation of two local journalists working for the BBC.
The Syrian Ministry of Information has accused the British broadcaster of engaging in false and politicized reporting.
The ministry said the accreditations were withdrawn after noticing subjective and false information being spread about Syria.
The BBC said its Arabic news service reports impartially and independently and speaks to people across the political spectrum.
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 highly addictive drug Captagon may have been a reason for the journalists’ accreditation revocation.
The report alleged that the Syrian government was involved in the production and export of the drug.
Syria has denied any involvement in the Captagon trade.
The U.S., the United Kingdom, and the European Union have named Maher al-Assad, the head of the Syrian Army’s Fourth Division and the president’s brother, as a key figure in the trade.
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