RNS: The Syrian government has withdrawn the BBC’s media accreditation due to biased and false reporting allegations.
According to a statement from Syria’s information ministry, the revocation involves a BBC correspondent, a cameraman, and a radio correspondent due to their non-compliance with professional standards and persistent delivery of prejudiced and deceptive reports.
The ministry did not point out the exact reports in question. However, a report was published by the BBC last month that claimed direct connections between the Assad family, specifically President Bashar al-Assad, and the Syrian military with the trade of an amphetamine called Captagon. The Syrian government has previously refuted this allegation.
In response, a spokesperson for the BBC asserted that their Arabic News department offers unbiased and independent journalism, sourcing information from all sides of the political spectrum to establish the truth. They emphasized their commitment to continue providing impartial news and information to Arabic-speaking audiences worldwide.
The controversial drug, Captagon, is known to be highly addictive and similar to amphetamines. The US, UK, and European Union have implicated the Syrian government in the production and distribution of Captagon, listing some relatives of Assad as significant players.”
