Suliman Mulhem 0 606141Because of nation-wide fighting in Syria for the past few years, journalists have had little access to the country. As a result, unofficial networks and sources have played a large role in relaying developments in Syria to the international community.

Many of these groups have manipulated events in Syria to suit their own political agendas.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has emerged as the most widely used source with regards to the Syrian crisis. This group has bent facts to push its anti-Assad and anti-Russia agenda. The SOHR has accused the Syrian government, and its armed forces of deliberately targeting civilians on several occasions.

Many media outlets have used the SOHR’s accusations to delegate blame to Assad’s government. However, it is clear that this organization is biased, and any sensible media outlet wouldn’t take or use its allegations against the Syrian government as fact. The opposition’s flag is included in the SOHR’s logo, clearly demonstrating their bias against Assad and his allies.

In an interview with Reuters, the leader of the organization, Rami Abdulrahman, said “I came to Britain the day Hafez al-Assad died, and I’ll return when Bashar al-Assad goes,” further demonstrating his opposition of the Syrian government. Operating out of a home in Coventry, UK by Rami Abdulrahman, the group’s ability to relay facts and events from Syria is limited.

Abdulrahman has no prior experience or training in the field of journalism or monitoring, or any other remotely related field. Therefore, reports made by the SOHR should be taken as speculation or unverified reports. The SOHR forms the epicenter of the biased media coverage of the Syrian crisis, giving media outlets the opportunity to report unfounded and unverified claims in a more structured way.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201612061048219780-syria-assad-media-coverage/