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"Media U-Turn" in Syrian Scene.. Controversy Over Sudden Shifts Toward "Al-Jolani"
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Sharp shifts in some Syrian journalists' positions reveal dangerous pattern of opportunistic change, threatening media discourse credibility
The sudden shift in Syrian journalists' positions, including Ghassan Yassin, toward HTS has sparked wide media debate, highlighting growing "media u-turning" phenomenon in Syria.
Journalist Najmuddin Al-Najm revealed stark contradictions in Yassin's positions, who switched within two weeks from describing Jolani and his group as a "gang" to becoming one of their prominent defenders.
Review of Yassin's tweets showed dramatic shift from describing Jolani as a "criminal regardless of his clothes and statements" to praising HTS's "impressive performance" in managing political change.
This transformation represents a broader pattern in Syrian media, where criminalization shifts to justification without public explanation or apology.
Other media accounts show similar position changes, raising concerns about organized "electronic armies" seeking public opinion control.
Analysts warn these shifts may precede future smear campaigns against opposition figures. Yassin's contradictory positions raise credibility questions, especially after defending Jolani against an Israeli spokesman's "terrorist" label after previously accusing him of betraying the revolution.
Experts emphasize documenting these shifts for public awareness, while activists demand accountability for shifting media figures and warn against social media becoming tools for public deception.
Observers expect "u-turning" phenomenon to increase with Syrian developments, emphasizing collective memory preservation as defense against misinformation attempts.
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