Independent journalist Richard Medhurst on the so-called ‘Syrian Revolution’
Dec 14, 2024
Medhurst was born in Damascus, Syria. His father is English and mother is Syrian. Both his parents served in United Nations Peacekeeping and Observer missions and were among the UN Peacekeepers awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
Medhurst was born in Damascus, Syria. His father is English and mother is Syrian. Both his parents served in United Nations Peacekeeping and Observer missions and were among the UN Peacekeepers awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988. Owing to his parents’ professional mobility, he has lived in Syria, Pakistan, Switzerland, and Austria. He speaks four languages fluently: English, Arabic, French, and German.
Medhurst’s journalism focuses on exposing US, British and Israeli war crimes in Gaza and across the Middle East. He is known for his coverage of the Julian Assange extradition case in London, and of the Iran nuclear deal talks in Vienna.
In August this year, Medhurst was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport under the draconian provisions of the 2000 Terrorism Act. He was held for almost 24 hours, questioned, and had all his electronic devices and journalistic equipment confiscated. Medhurst said on his X account, “I believe I’m the first journalist to be arrested under this provision of the Terrorism Act.” At the time, independent journalists wrote that Medhurst’s arrest was part of a broader effort by the British Labour government to criminalise and intimidate opposition to the genocide in Gaza that has seen mass demonstrations in Britain and throughout the world.
Watch Richard Medhurst talk about the truth about Syria:
Sawsan Madina
Sawsan Madina is former Head of SBS Television
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