EU sanctions on Syrian media institutions contradict human rights, freedom of expression

Syrian Journalists on Saturday said that the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Syrian media institutions unmask the western false mottos of human rights and freedom of expression. A source at al-Watan newspaper told SANA that the newspaper expected such sanctions since the EU had imposed sanctions on Addounia TV, adding that imposing sanctions on media institutions contradicts all conventions of human rights and the constitutions of Europe and the world. The source added that the newspaper is publishing the truth, while lots of the world's newspapers are circulating mere lies on Syria. For his part, Head of the National Media Council, Taleb Qadi Amin, said that the sanctions imposed by the EU against al-Watan newspaper, Addounia TV and Champress website are unacceptable and contradict the media freedom claimed by the European countries. Elias Murad, Head of the Journalists Union, said that the EU countries, which are exporting sparkling mottos under many pretexts, couldn't endure a national newspaper- that is not official and criticizes the government for many procedures- just because it expresses the national stances and the aspirations and opinions of the Syrian people.