Western Reporters Sneak into Syria – a collection

As Syria’s regime justifies their killing by claiming they are fighting armed gangs, there are reporters that have been in Syria and reported first hand. Here are all the important stories, by my judgment, of Western reporters that have snuck into Syria during Bashar al Assad’s (et al) Massacres this year:

The brave and talented Rania Abouzeid for Time Magazine:

June 13, 2011 “The Soldier Who Gave Up on Assad to Protect Syria’s People” The first incursion that I know of – near Jisr al-Shoughour…this is a story about a defected colonel that is an amazing piece. This was very important as the regime was trying to spin what happened there.

June 14, 2011 “Refugees in the Dark: Fleeing a Devastated Syrian Town” Rania spent time with the Syrian refugees fleeing from the military attacks.

June 20, 2011 “Stories of Mass Rape: Sifting Through Rumor and Taboo in Syria” In this piece, Rania sneaks into the high security Turkish refugee camp and back into Syria.

August 11, 2011 “A Visit to Hama, the Rebel Syrian City That Refused to Die” Rania told me in July, “[I] am Doubting Thomas on things Syria. Must see, hear, feel, be there myself.” So she did — and it is a must read about the tale end of the bloody Ramadan Massacre in Hama.

August 12, 2011 “Dissent in Damascus’ Shadows: Driving Around Syria’s Capital” In this article, Rania drives around Damascus in a car blaring pro-Assad music. I can’t imagine doing this.

August 15, 2011 “Syria’s City of Graves: Hama and Its History of Massacres” An emotional piece with interviews of Hama residents that made it through the latest massacre.

August 18, 2011 “Syria’s Most Wanted: A Glimpse of Life on the Run with Army Defectors” A dramatic story of riding around on a motorbike in the dark visiting deserted soldiers in hiding, and the ending of tanks rolling in to destroy the area where the soldiers were hidden. There is also a good eyewitness account compared with Syrian TV’s account.

The incredible Gaëtan Vannay, Swiss reporter:

August 4, 2011 “A Journalist from the RSR Was Smuggled into Syria” I was shocked to read his Tweet on August 3: “Back today from Hama. Witnessed 10 days of peaceful demonstrations and storming of the city by tanks and security forces.” He was there from 7/21 to 8/2 — a critical period he witnessed since it contradicts what the regime’s reason for massacring the city. I have links to other media reports about Gaëtan’s trip at the bottom of that page.

Vannay’s log of each day in Syria.

Vannay’s interview with RMC.fr: “I haven’t seen any gang, in these 10 days. I only saw peaceful demonstrations. I didn’t hear any gunshot [before the army came].”

Vannay writing in LeMonde

The amazing Pulitzer Prize winning Anthony Shadid with photographer Moises Saman:

July 19, 2011 “In Scarred Syria City, a Vision of a Life Free from Dictators” He reports what he sees in Hama before the massacre.

July 21, 2011 “Lyrical Message for Syrian Leader: ‘Come on Bashar, Leave’” He reports about the protesting culture of Hama.

An interview with the NYTimes Lens Blog.

July 24, 2011 “New Loyalties and Old Feuds Collide in Syria” They make a visit to Homs and highlight how the regime to trying to sow sectarian division.

August 31, 2011 “Syria’s Sons of No One” Shadid’s extended NYT Magazine piece on his visit to Syria.

Just when I thought I’d seen the most surprising reporting, Nir Rosen of Al Jazeera comes out after 7 weeks to report on what he saw. See September and October 2011 articles (book is forthcoming):

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/profile/nir-rosen.html

If there are more that I have missed, please comment below or mention to @brmorris on Twitter.