.@pressemblem We urge you to take immediate action against the war crimes of Syrian state-backed jihadis using “PRESS” vests to feign protected status while carrying out atrocities against Druze civilians. This constitutes perfidy as prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. https://t.co/JHzJLT5Wb8
- UN Watch (@UNWatch) July 20, 2025
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - A leading international association of journalists, the Press Emblem Campaign, has condemned the use of press vests by regime-backed jihadists committing atrocities against the Druze minority in southern Syria.
Referring to a widely circulated video of Islamist fighters vandalizing Druze property in the Suwayda area last week, the Press Emblem Campaign stated that it “condemns the use of the ‘Press’ symbol by Islamist fighters in the fighting in southern Syria.”
Based in Geneva, the Press Emblem Campaign is an international group of journalists that aims at strengthening the legal protection and safety of journalists in zones of conflict. Accredited as a non-governmental organization by the United Nations, the Press Emblem Campaign is supported by 50 NGOs and journalists’ associations from around the world.
The video was just one of numerous accounts of Syrian state-backed violence against the Druze minority in the south of the country over the last week, with hundreds of civilians killed amidst reports of gross human rights violations.
UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer: “While many NGOs and human rights organizations have remained silent on the jihadist atrocities against Syria’s Druze minority, the PEC’s condemnation of the jihadists’ perfidy is an important statement. We call on other UN and international bodies to follow their lead.”
