IS releases list of rules for journalists in Syria

The Islamic State has reportedly handed out a list of rules for journalists living in Syria's Deir al-Zour region, mainly controlled by the extremist group.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Syria Deeply, an independent news site that focuses on the Syrian conflict, has published a list of rules that it says have been given to journalists in the Islamic State-controlled region of Deir al-Zour.

The list was reportedly sent to Syria Deeply by "Amer," a local journalist who stayed in the city after the Islamic State took over.

Some of the rules are as follows:

1 - Correspondents must swear allegiance to the Caliph [Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi ... they are subjects of the Islamic State and, as subjects, they are obliged to swear loyalty to their imam.

Journalists are also told that they will have to check in with the Islamic State's media office:

6 - Journalists are not allowed to publish any reportage (print or broadcast) without referring to the [ISIS] media office first.

And social media is acceptable but will be monitored.

7 - Journalists may have their own social media accounts and blogs to disseminate news and pictures. However, the ISIS media office must have the addresses and name handles of these accounts and pages.

However, these rules seem to be specifically applicable for local journalists and as for the Western reporters, it remains a great risk to visit Islamic State-controlled territory.