{{Short description|Arabic language newspaper}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Al-Ba'ath<br>البعث | logo = | image = The first page of the first issue of al-Ba'ath newspaper, 1946.jpg | caption = The first page of the first issue of newspaper | type = [[Daily newspaper]] | format = [[Compact (newspaper)|Compact]] | founded = {{start date and age|1948}} | ceased_publication = {{end date and age|2024}} | owners = [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syrian Regional Branch]] of the [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party]] | publisher = [[Abdullah al-Ahmar]] | editor = | language = [[Arabic]] | political_position = [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region]] | publishing_country = {{flag|Ba'athist Syria}} | circulation = | headquarters = [[Damascus]], [[Syria]] | ISSN = | website = [https://newspaper.albaathmedia.sy/ albaathmedia.sy/] }} {{Ba'athism sidebar}} '''''Al-Ba'ath''''' ({{langx|ar|البعث|lit=The Resurrection}}) was an [[Arabic language]] [[newspaper]] published by the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Ba'ath Party]] in [[Syria]] and other Arab countries and territories, including [[Lebanon]] and [[Palestine]].
==History== ''Al-Ba'ath'' was founded in 1948<ref>{{cite journal|author=Dany Badran|title=Democracy and Rhetoric in the Arab World|journal=The Journal of the Middle East and Africa|year=2013|volume=4|issue=1|pages=65–86|doi=10.1080/21520844.2013.772685|s2cid=143657988}}</ref> (according to other sources, in 1946<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-19 |title=الصفحة الأولى من العدد الأول لصحيفة البعث 1946 |url=https://syrmh.com/2019/04/20/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%81%d8%ad%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%88%d9%84%d9%89-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%84%d8%b5%d8%ad%d9%8a%d9%81%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=التاريخ السوري المعاصر |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Moubayed |first=Sami M. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Steel_Silk/sC-xU8QHSooC?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA213&printsec=frontcover |title=Steel & Silk: Men and Women who Shaped Syria 1900-2000 |date=2006 |publisher=Cune Press |isbn=978-1-885942-40-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Al-Azdee |first=Mohammed H. S. Mohammed |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Syrian_Press_Agenda_of_Bias_Associat/zT8eAQAAMAAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&bsq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&printsec=frontcover |title=The Syrian Press Agenda of Bias Associated with Israel |date=2009 |publisher=Indiana University, School of Journalism |language=en}}</ref>), but the newspaper applied for a publishing license as early as 1943,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-21 |title=صحيفة البعث |url=https://syrmh.com/2023/12/21/%d8%b5%d8%ad%d9%8a%d9%81%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%ab/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=التاريخ السوري المعاصر |language=ar}}</ref> as an organ of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=David Commins|author2=David W. Lesch|title=Historical Dictionary of Syria|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wpBWAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA252|year=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7966-9|page=252}}</ref> The government's main condition at the time was that the newspaper not be named after the party (which ultimately did not happen). At the time of its founding, [[Michel Aflaq]] became the newspaper's political director, and [[Salah al-Din al-Bitar|Salah ad-Din al-Bitar]] became the executive director.<ref name=":0" /> In 1962, the newspaper was ordered closed, but the [[Ba'athism|Ba'athists]] failed to be suppressed - the party's national command continued and intensified its attacks on the government, clearly demonstrating its hostility towards it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Heydemann |first=Steven |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Authoritarianism_in_Syria/3SVzDwAAQBAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA153&printsec=frontcover |title=Authoritarianism in Syria: Institutions and Social Conflict, 1946–1970 |date=2018-10-18 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-2561-6 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Ba'ath party rule === After the [[Ba'ath Party]] came to power [[1963 Syrian coup d'état|in 1963]], the number of newspapers permitted for publication was greatly reduced - previously this figure had reached 74, but now only three were permitted for publication: ''[[Al-Thawra (newspaper)|al-Thawra]]'', ''[[Freedom (Syrian newspaper)|Tishreen]]'' and ''Al-Ba'ath'' (little-known and regional newspapers are not taken into account).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eddin |first=Eylaf Bader |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Translating_the_Language_of_the_Syrian_R/bLbiEAAAQBAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA75&printsec=frontcover |title=Translating the Language of the Syrian Revolution (2011/12) |date=2023-11-20 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG |isbn=978-3-11-076769-8 |language=en}}</ref> In 1965, the daily circulation of the newspaper was estimated at 10,000 copies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Division |first=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Areas Studies |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Area_Handbook_for_Syria/ZO8zkgH7rkYC?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA221&printsec=frontcover |title=Area Handbook for Syria |date=1970 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en}}</ref> The newspaper was described as socialist but anti-[[Nasserism|Nasserist]]:<ref name=":1" /> For example, the newspaper stated that the [[United Arab Republic|union]] between Syria and [[Egypt]] "only is wrong and harmful", and was "surrender to emotionalism of masses".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hofstadter |first=Dan |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Egypt_Nasser_1957_66/QzyPAAAAIAAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&bsq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&printsec=frontcover |title=Egypt & Nasser: 1957-66 |date=1973 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=978-0-87196-204-1 |language=en}}</ref> The newspaper also announced in 1966 the transformation of the [[Syrian Arab Armed Forces|army]] into an ideological instrument to achieve the transition to [[socialism]]. On October 19 of the same year, the newspaper announced the recent formation and mobilization of the Syrian People's Army and the workers' and peasants' militia with the aim of "protect the revolution against its enemies at home and abroad."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farnham |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Avoiding_Losses_taking_Risks/RH5SZHYfMI4C?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA105&printsec=frontcover |title=Avoiding Losses/taking Risks: Prospect Theory and International Conflict |date=1994 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-08276-6 |language=en}}</ref> After the [[Syrian intervention in the Lebanese Civil War|Syrian intervention]] started in 1976, the newspaper began covering the [[Lebanese Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ibrahim |first=Sonallah |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Beirut_Beirut/2KtOBAAAQBAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PT213&printsec=frontcover |title=Beirut, Beirut: A novel of love & war |date=2014-09-11 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-9927-101-34-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Deeb |first=M. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Syria_s_Terrorist_War_on_Lebanon_and_the/nTHIAAAAQBAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA199&printsec=frontcover |title=Syria’s Terrorist War on Lebanon and the Peace Process |date=2003-07-03 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-4039-8096-0 |language=en}}</ref> ''Al-Ba'ath'' newspaper also made repeated attacks on leader of [[Ba'athist Iraq]], [[Saddam Hussein]], with whom Syria had [[Assadist–Saddamist conflict|serious disagreements]]: for example, in 1980 it called him a pervert.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blum |first=Yehuda Zvi |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/For_Zion_s_Sake/tlCHQ6LU988C?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA91&printsec=frontcover |title=For Zion's Sake |date=1987 |publisher=Associated University Presse |isbn=978-0-8453-4809-3 |language=en}}</ref>
In addition to the daily, there are also three more state-owned papers in Syria: ''[[Al-Thawra (newspaper)|Al Thawra]]'', ''[[Tishreen (newspaper)|Tishreen]]'' and ''[[Syria Times]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ghadbian|first=Najib|title=Contesting the state media monopoly: Syria on Al Jazira Television|journal=Meria|date=Summer 2001|volume=5|issue=2|url=http://www.gloria-center.org/meria/2001/06/ghadbian.pdf|access-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221902/http://www.gloria-center.org/meria/2001/06/ghadbian.pdf|archive-date=4 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2025|?=yes}} ''Al-Ba'ath'' is based in [[Damascus]].<ref name="cooke2007">{{cite book|author=Miriam Cooke|title=Dissident Syria: Making Oppositional Arts Official|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsaC40CnhcoC&pg=PA8|year=2007|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0-8223-4035-5|page=8}}</ref> From 2002 to 2004 [[Mahdi Dakhlallah]] was the [[editor-in-chief]] of ''Al-Ba'ath''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blanford|first=Nicholas|title=Censors ease up on Syrian press|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1228/p06s01-wome.html|access-date=2 October 2013|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=28 November 2004|location=Damascus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Aji|first=Albert|title=Syria ousts 8 Cabinet ministers in shakeup|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/05/syria_ousts_8_cabinet_ministers_in_shakeup/|access-date=2 October 2013|work=The Boston Globe|date=5 October 2004|agency=AP|location=Damascus}}</ref>
=== Syrian civil war and the fall of the Ba'athist regime === The newspaper became one of the main sources of government propaganda. In 2011, before the revolution [[Syrian revolution|came to Syria]], ''Al-Ba'ath'' newspaper enthusiastically celebrated the regional uprisings of the Arab Spring and even the overthrow of autocrats (especially [[Lists of rulers of Egypt|Egyptian dictator]] [[Hosni Mubarak]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Daher |first=Joseph |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Syria_After_the_Uprisings/qfzRDwAAQBAJ?hl=ru&gbpv=1&dq=syrian+al-baath+newspaper&pg=PA2014-IA3&printsec=frontcover |title=Syria After the Uprisings: The Political Economy of State Resilience |date=2020-02-22 |publisher=Haymarket Books |isbn=978-1-64259-416-4 |language=en}}</ref> Since the start of the [[Syrian civil war]], it has constantly reported on famine and economic problems in countries that took actions against [[Bashar al-Assad]]'s regime.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-12 |title=Europe starves, Americans are mentally ill: Syrian state media |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2022/05/europe-starves-americans-are-mentally-ill-syrian-state-media/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}}</ref> The Ba'ath Media platform and ''Al-Ba'ath'' newspaper website stopped publishing news or reports since 7 December 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=ارتباك في الصحف السورية الموالية لنظام الأسد |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/entertainment_media/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF |work=[[Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]] |date=2024-12-10 |language=ar |trans-title=Confusion in Syrian newspapers loyal to the Assad regime}}</ref> Following the [[fall of the Assad regime]], the [[editorial board]] of ''Al-Ba'ath'' published a statement on its [[Facebook]] announcing its support "with our media, electronic platforms, various institutions and our branches in the governorates and outside Syria, for the [[Syrian caretaker government|transitional phase]] that promises to preserve the unity of Syria, land and people, and to guarantee the safety of its territories…".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yousef |first=Al-Ali |date=9 December 2024 |title=Statement of the Editorial Board of Dar Al-Baath |url=https://newspaper.albaathmedia.sy/2024/12/09/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86/ |access-date= |website=Al-Ba'ath |language=ar |archive-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209161259/https://newspaper.albaathmedia.sy/2024/12/09/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of newspapers in Syria]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{in lang|ar}} ''[http://www.albaath.news.sy/user/ Al-Ba'ath] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223060418/http://www.albaath.news.sy/user/ |date=23 February 2012 }}'' {{Newspapers in Syria |state=collapsed}} {{Ba'ath Party}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baath Al}} [[Category:1948 establishments in Syria]] [[Category:Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region]] [[Category:Arabic-language newspapers]] [[Category:Mass media in Damascus]] [[Category:Daily newspapers published in Syria]] [[Category:Organization of the Ba'ath Party]] [[Category:Newspapers established in 1948]]