Syria’s new government lifts Assad’s internet restrictions
Syria’s communications ministry has declared that internet restrictions imposed by the former Assad regime have been lifted, with numerous websites now accessible, The New Arab reported on January 7th.
The reforms include enhancements to internet speed to provide citizens with improved communication services, Hussein al-Masri, the communications minister, informed the SANA news agency.
The bans on pro-revolution websites, previously blocked by the Assad regime, have also been removed.
“We have cancelled internet speed limits in provinces such as Daraa and Quneitra to improve internet quality and facilitate access to information and electronic services,” he stated.
“We have lifted the block on websites that supported the Syrian revolution to enhance freedom of expression and access to information.”
The ministry’s next objective is to establish connections between northern Syria and other provinces, aiming for better communication across the country after years of division.
“We are always seeking to take measures that contribute to improving the lives of citizens in a free Syria,” he added.
These developments are part of the new administration’s broader plans to resolve ongoing issues and manage the transitional period.
READ: US diplomats head to Syria to meet new leadership.
A 2020 report by Freedom House, a US-based organisation advocating for democracy globally, highlighted that internet freedoms under the Assad regime were severely constrained, with government suppression of dissent at an unprecedented level.
The report indicated that journalists and online activists were frequently subject to arrest, detention, and torture.
The Assad regime also introduced ‘internet rationing’ during the war and economic crisis, limiting the amount of data citizens could use each month.
Exceeding broadband data limits resulted in reduced speeds and significant price hikes.
Freedom House argued that these measures represented another restriction on civil liberties and political rights within the country.
Many activists resorted to self-censorship and concealed their identities to avoid persecution or repression by Assad’s security forces.
READ: Journalists reveal identities after Assad’s fall.
According to Freedom House, Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure ranks among the least developed in the Middle East, with bombing-related damage contributing significantly to the problem.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, has repeatedly pledged to uphold freedoms in the country after rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted the Assad regime in December.
The New Arab
