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Memri
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Appointment Of Hamza Al-Mustafa As Syria's New Information Minister – Another Step In Qatar's Takeover Of Syria's Media
On March 29, 2025, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa appointed the government for the transitional phase, which is slated to be in place for five years. His pick for information minister was Hamza Al-Mustafa. Al-Mustafa is known to be very close to Azmi Bishara, a senior advisor to the Qatari Emir who owns media outlets and research institutes and has significant influence on Qatar's decision-making. Al-Mustafa is also known for his ties to Yasser Abu Hilala, a former director-general of Qatar's Al-Jazeera Network, who is himself an associate of Bishara.[1] The appointment of Hamza Al-Mustafa as information minister is a further expression of Qatar's deep and direct involvement in the new Syrian administration, and especially in the Syrian media. Since the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime in December 2024 and the establishment of the new Syrian administration headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Qatar has been conspicuously involved in shaping the new Syria, in particular its political and media spheres. Alongside various manifestations of this involvement – including highly-publicized official visits by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani and other Qatari officials in Syria, meetings between Qatari officials and officials in the new Syrian regime, and Qatari assistance in infrastructure projects and in the reconstruction of the country – Qatar has also been active in Syria through its media arms and their personnel. The Al-Jazeera Media Institute, owned by the Qatari government, has provided media training to Syria's new government ministries, including the ministries of information and of foreign affairs, and holds courses and seminars for Syrian journalists and communications students with the participation of senior Al-Jazeera media professionals.[2] Moreover, Azmi Bishara, who, as noted, is close to the Qatari Emir, has clearly gained significant influence over the media discourse in Syria. The media networks Al-Araby and Syria TV, both of which belong to the Qatari Fadaat Media network, which is overseen by Bishara, have become major outlets in Syria, and Bishara himself frequently appears on these networks, advising the new Syrian administration on how to project a democratic image and promote itself in the West.[3] Criticism of Bishara's involvement in Syria was heard soon after the overthrow of the Assad regime and after the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) organization, headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, took control of the country with Qatar's support.[4] This criticism appears to be validated by the appointment of Al-Mustafa, Bishara's "protégé," as information minister, an appointment which has sparked concerns that he will effectively control the Syrian media. Bishara's ties with Al-Mustafa deepened with the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, and the two have remained close. Between 2011 and 2018 Al-Mustafa was a fellow at the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, also known as the Doha Institute, where Bishara is director-general and a member of the executive board. From 2019 until his recent appointment as information minister, Al-Mustafa held high-level positions in the Al-Araby network and later in the Syria TV network, which, as mentioned, both belong to Faddat Media, supervised by Bishara. Prior to this, in 2017, Al-Mustafa completed a degree in political science and international relations at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, where Bishara is chairman of the board.[5] Following Al-Mustafa's appointment, many Syrians on X expressed concern that their country's media would become a branch of the Qatari regime and that Bishara would gain exclusive control over the government and non-government media, and would thus "control the Syrian minds" and "infiltrate the Syrian government." They warned that Bishara, who was a member of the Israeli Knesset from 1996 until 2007, when he fled to Qatar after being suspected of spying for Hizbullah, has pro-Iranian leanings, as does his associate Abu Hilala. Al-Mustafa, who is close to both these figures, they said, surely shares their pro-Iranian positions. Therefore, in his new role as information minister he will very likely prevent open criticism of Iran and its proxies in the Syrian media, to the detriment of Syrian interests. Some former colleagues of Al-Mustafa reported that his pro-Iranian leanings were indeed evident when he served as director-general of Syria TV. Hamza Al-Mustafa (right) and Azmi Bishara at a July 2011 conference on Syria in Qatar (Source: July 31, 2011) This report reviews posts by Syrian X users who oppose the appointment of Hamza Al-Mustafa as Syria's information minister, due to his relationship with Azmi Bishara. Syrian TV Presenter: Syria Has Nothing To Do With Al-Mustafa, Who Is A Protégé Of Azmi Bishara Asya Hesham, an anchor on the Emirati Al Mashhad channel who previously worked at Syria TV, including under Al-Mustafa, warned that the Syrian media would soon be operating under the patronage of Azmi Bishara, and that Al-Mustafa does not represent the Syrian people. She wrote on March 27, 2025, when Al-Mustafa was a candidate for information minister but not yet officially appointed: "Appointing Hamza Al-Mustafa to any position instead of holding him to account [for his poor performance as director-general of Syria TV] means that the entire Syrian media will be under the patronage of Azmi Bishara."[6] In another post she wrote: "He [Al-Mustafa] does not allow anyone to insult [slain Hizbullah Secretary-General] Hassan Nasrallah!... He [also] prevents his presenters from angering Iran or discussing the nihilist resistance axis in order to please Azmi Bishara! Is this the man who is [now] being considered for the position of information minister?!!!! What does Syria have to do with this protégé of Azmi Bishara?... I understand that he is the pampered son of Azmi and of Qatar, but what is our connection to him, as a people?..."[7] Syrian Journalist: Bishara Has Become The Supreme Leader Of The Syrian Media, And Nothing Could Be More Dangerous Syrian journalist Ahmad Kamel, who worked for the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel but is known to be a critic of Azmi Bishara, also posted on March 27, before Al-Mustafa's appointment as minister: "If Hamza Mustafa, the director of Syria TV, which is owned by Azmi Bishara, is appointed minister of information or chairman of the Media Administration, the new government will lose all the Syrian journalists, and especially the ones who worked or are working with Al-Mustafa, because they are familiar with his abilities and his subservience [to Bishara], and they are inconsistent with this serious position. Azmi Bishara is about to control 100% of the Syrian minds and to infiltrate the Syrian government, God help us." In a comment on his own post after Al-Mustafa's appointment, Kamel added: "Azmi Bishara has become the sole ruler of the government and non-government Syrian media, and nothing could be more dangerous."[8] Syrian Journalist: The Appointment Of Al-Mustafa Is The End Of The Syrian Government Media On March 28, one day before Al-Mustafa's appointment, Syrian journalist Abd Al-Jalil Al-Saeid posted a photograph of Hamza Al-Mustafa with former Al-Jazeera director-general Yasser Abu Hilala, and commented: "If Hamza Al-Mustafa is appointed Minister of Information in the new Syria, it will be the end of our government media. He is the office manager of Dr. Azmi Antoine Bishara and a diligent student of the pro-Iranian Yasser Abu Hilala. All we can do about them is trust in Allah."[9] In another post following Al-Mustafa's appointment, Al-Saeid wrote: "Based on the [previous] decisions of the new Syrian information minister, Hamza Al-Mustafa – the office manager of Azmi Bishara – any Syrian who has criticized, attacked or spoken against Dr. Azmi Antoine Bishara is now prohibited from appearing on Syria's local or satellite media channels…"[10] Syrian Artist: Whoever Has The Trust Of The Pro-Iranian Bishara Does Not Deserve The Trust Of The Syrians Ammar Agha Al-Kala, a Syrian artist, cartoonist and writer, posted on March 28: "If the news [about Al-Mustafa's appointment] is correct, what extortion compelled the Syrian government to place Hamza Mustafa, the director-general of Syria TV, on the media front of the new government? Anyone who has the trust of the pro-Iranian Azmi Bishara does not deserve the trust of the Syrians; this is indisputable. This decision will encounter strong pushback from the Syrian people, which will not end until he resigns or is dismissed…"[11] Syrian X Accounts: The Appointment Of Bishara's And Abu Hilala's Righthand Man Is A Disaster For Syria On March 29, a Syrian X account called Syrian Free Youth shared a picture of Al-Mustafa with Azmi Bishara and commented, "The appointment of Hamza Al-Mustafa as minister of information means that the Syrian media is now in the hands of the axis of pleasures [a play of words on the name of the Iran-led "axis of resistance"] under the patronage of Azmi Bishara!!"[12] Another Syrian account, Rafif #TheFreeSyria, shared a picture of Al-Mustafa with Bishara and Abu Hilala, and commented: "…The true disaster is that Hamza Al-Mustafa has been appointed minister of information. He is the righthand man of Azmi Bishara and Yasser Abu Hilala. For your information: the strongest ministry in any country – after the ministries of defense and economy – is the ministry of information."[13]
Memri
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Qatar's Al-Jazeera Network Provides Media Training For Officials Of New Syrian Government, Syrian Journalists, And Syrian Communications Students
Since the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, and the establishment of the new government led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Qatar's involvement in shaping the new Syria has been conspicuous. Alongside highly publicized state visits by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani and other senior Qatari officials in Syria, meetings between senior officials of the two countries, and Qatari assistance in infrastructure projects and in Syria's reconstruction, Qatar has also been operating in Syria through its media outlets, particularly the Al-Jazeera Network, which is known for supporting and encouraging Islamist terrorism worldwide. [1] Since the establishment of the new Syrian regime, the Al-Jazeera Media Institute has been providing media training to the new Syrian ministries, including the foreign affairs and information ministries. It has also held courses and seminars for Syrian journalists and students, with the participation of senior Al-Jazeera media figures. Prominent among them was the Syrian-born veteran journalist Faisal Al-Qassem, host of the channel's flagship show "The Opposite Direction," who was known as an opponent of the Assad regime. After the overthrow of that regime, Al-Qassam arrived in Syria for a highly publicized celebratory visit, and met with Al-Sharaa. To view a clip about his visit on MEMRI TV, click here or below: This report presents examples of Al-Jazeera's involvement in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. Al-Jazeera Provides Media Training And Guidance To The New Syrian Administration Al-Jazeera has been actively involved in providing media training and guidance to the ministries of Syria's new government. For example, on January 15, 2025 the Diplomatic Institute at the Syrian Foreign Ministry and the Al-Jazeera Media Institute held a joint seminar on "media relations," attended by Syrian government officials and staff and hosted by senior Al-Jazeera TV presenter Faisal Al-Qassem. [2] Faisal Al-Qassem speaks at a seminar of the Syrian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Institute (Source: January 15, 2025) The Syrian Information Ministry reported on February 7 that the Al-Jazeera Media Institute was holding a series of courses on media, journalism and outreach in collaboration with the ministry's Syrian Academy in order to train media professionals. [3] One of the Al-Jazeera Media Institute's courses (Image: February 7, 2025) On January 9, the Al-Jazeera Media Institute held an open session with journalists at the Damascus Sheraton Hotel to present its initiatives and courses and "familiarize itself with the journalists' needs and priorities at this time." The session was attended by the institute's director of media initiatives, Muntasir Mar'i, veteran Al-Jazeera host Khadija Benguenna and Al-Jazeera correspondent in Syria Adham Abu Al-Hossam. [4] Invitation to the Al-Jazeera Media Institute's open session with journalists in Damascus (Image: January 7, 2025) Damascus University's Faculty of Mass Communication also held a seminar that day in collaboration with the Al-Jazeera Media Institute, on "the challenges and the ways to develop the Syrian media scene," attended by the faculty's teachers and students. In his talk at the seminar, t he institute's director of media initiatives, Muntasir Mar'i, proposed cooperation between the institute and the faculty and holding courses for faculty students and graduates to improve their practical media skills. [5] Seminar at Damascus University's Faculty of Mass Communication, in cooperation with the Al-Jazeera Media Institute (Image: January 9, 2025) The Al-Jazeera Media Institute has also launched free courses across Syria as part of its Al-Jazeera Ambassadors program for empowering media talent across the world. [6] Course in Aleppo, taught by Syrian Al-Jazeera journalist Amar Al-Sayyed (Image: February 2, 2025) Senior Al-Jazeera TV Host Visits Syria, Meets With New Syrian Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa As stated, senior Al-Jazeera host Faisal Al-Qassem spoke to senior and other Syrian government officials as part of a seminar held by the Syrian Foreign Ministry and the Al-Jazeera Media Institute. [7] Al-Qassem, who is of Syrian origin and was known for his vehement opposition to the Assad regime, arrived in Syria in January 2025 following the fall of that regime. During his visit, he spoke with the country's new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the Presidential Palace in Damascus, [8] visited the city of his birth, Suwayda, where he was warmly welcomed, [9] and filmed an episode of the flagship Al-Jazeera program that he hosts, "The Opposite Direction," in Damascus. [10] Al-Qassem warmly welcomed to his hometown in Syria, and with Syrian President Al-Sharaa (Image: January 15, 2025) [2] January 15, 2025. [3] February 7, 2025. [4] January 7, 2025. [5] January 9, 2025. [6] January 9, 2025. [7] January 15, 2025. [8] January 10, 2025. [10] January 28, 2025.
