The brother of the Syrian president slaps the political and media adviser of the President of Syria and a Syrian female journalist accuses “Aljazeera” of betraying the ethics of journalism
By Iqbal Tamimi
Prominent Syrian media women became part of controversial headlines lately. Al-Seyassah, the Kuwaiti newspaper, has published a news article, claiming that the brother of the Syrian president, Maher Al-Assad, has slapped the political and media adviser of his brother, the President of Syria on her face and Journalist Luna al-Shibel, made a controversial appearance on the Syrian state television, accusing her ex employer, Al-Jazeera television Channel, of ‘breaching journalism trust’
The political and media adviser Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban served as the first Minister of Expatriates for the Syrian Arab Republic, between 2003 and 2008, and has been described as the Syrian “regime’s face to the outside world.
Maher Al-Assad is claimed to have accused her of ‘raising the ceiling of concessions of the Syrian system’ when she spoke about reforms. Al-Seyassah claims this is a sign of deep disagreements within the Syrian leadership, which is facing a wave of mass resignations from the “Baath party”, amid worsening humanitarian crisis in the city of Deraa.
According to the Kuwaiti newspaper, the political and media adviser, Mrs Bouthaina Shaaban has been removed from office after a serious disagreement with the brother of the Syrian President, Maher Al-Assad, who slapped her on her face, after expressing his extreme anger of the media conference she held at the beginning of the crisis, in which she proclaimed the commitment of President Bashar Al-Assad to reforms. Maher Al-Assad blamed her and attributed her proclamation to have lifted the roof of concessions by the system, which from his point of view, has led to the escalation of protests’ movements.
On the other hand, the female Syrian journalist, Luna al-Shibel, made a controversial shocking appearance on the Syrian state television, when she accused her ex employer, Al-Jazeera television Channel, of ‘breaching journalism trust’ regarding the way it is covering the news of Syria. She claims Aljazeera has been broadcasting ‘fabricated news about the events in Syria’. Lona Al-Shibel. Was one of five female Al-Jazeera presenters who quit Aljazeera in January 2010 over claimed dress code. 
According to Kuwaiti newspaper, “Al-Nahar, Al-Shibel claimed during an interview on ‘Liqaa Khas’ translates as (A Special Meeting) talk show, that “the attempts to overthrow the Assad regime is a scheme that existed long since the days of George Bush’s presidency. Al-Shibel described Aljazeera channel of having ‘black chambers’ from which it transmits its false news reports about the events in Syria, which she described as ‘fabricated’, and hence according to Al-Shibel , Aljazeera disrespects its media credibility and professionalism as a news service because it is following some political agendas planned and implemented since the governess of George Bush and Tony Blair, aiming to topple the Syrian regime and not to improve it. She accused Aljazeera of attempts to attack the Syrian regime over many years. According to Al-Shibel Aljazeera was broadcasting one wrong news item in every five items, to build over the years a great sense of credibility amongst viewers.
Al-Shibel attacked the Arab media and said that much of the Arab press and news agencies in the Arab World are complicit with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a number of such Arab media and press journalists are spies working for USA and hiding behind some titles such as political analysts as a cover up.
iqbasl@yahoo.com
