In Lebanon, journalists come under legal intimidation as press freedom declines

Dario Sabaghi

Apr 8, 2023

Retired servicemen remove razor wire barricade outside Lebanon's central bank during a demonstration demanding inflation-adjustments to their pensions, in Beirut on March 30, 2023. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images) — Retired servicemen remove razor wire barricade outside Lebanon's central bank during a demonstration demanding in Beirut on March 30, 2023. — JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

BEIRUT — The recent summoning by state authorities of the editors-in-chief of two independent Lebanese news media outlets has sparked an outcry from civil society, bringing the issue of press freedom to the forefront once again.

Lebanese independent news media outlet Megaphone News' editor-in-chief, Jean Kassir, was summoned by Lebanon's State Security on March 30.

Megaphone News claims that Ghassan Oueidat, prosecutor general in the Court of Cassation, is responsible for the summons of Kassir due to a Facebook and Instagram post titled "Lebanon ruled by fugitives from justice," which includes Oueidat's name.

More bad news for press freedom in Lebanon. Two outstanding journalists, @JeanKassir from @megaphone_news and Lara Bitar from @ThePublicSource , summoned for questioning by State Security. https://t.co/igi1IqBfwn

In Lebanon, journalists come under legal intimidation as press freedom declines

Two editors-in-chief of independent Lebanese news outlets have been summoned by security services, reigniting freedom of the press issues in Lebanon.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish

Read By