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Lebanese Judge Calls For Investigations Into Posts “Insulting” The President
According to the National News Agency, State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat has asked that the Criminal Investigations Department hold thorough investigations into “uncovering the identities of those who have published blogs and photos that affect the Presidency”. Oueidat asked that the social media account owners be tracked down and be charged with libel and defamation. Lebanese law criminalizes libel and defamation of the president, and those found guilty face up to two years in jail.
Editorial Purpose:We are sharing this piece of content to keep you in the loop on the latest happenings in the country.
This investigation is to come amid Lebanon’s most intense economic depression in its history, with around 50% of people living beneath the poverty line, a 70% depreciation of the Lebanese Lira, and thousands of families not knowing where their next meal is coming from.
As news of this broke, Twitter users reacted with the hashtag #ميشال_نوم (roughly translated into Michel sleeps), defending freedom of speech and rejecting state censorship.
Ironically, Gebran Bassil had published this in 2013 in defense of Jean Assi who was arrested for libeling President Michel Sleiman at the time:
What do you think of this decision?
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Editorial Purpose:We are sharing this piece of content to keep you in the loop on the latest happenings in the country.
This investigation is to come amid Lebanon’s most intense economic depression in its history, with around 50% of people living beneath the poverty line, a 70% depreciation of the Lebanese Lira, and thousands of families not knowing where their next meal is coming from.
As news of this broke, Twitter users reacted with the hashtag #ميشال_نوم (roughly translated into Michel sleeps), defending freedom of speech and rejecting state censorship.
In a galaxy far, far away…# pic.twitter.com/aDgjvonzMt
— Gino Raidy (@GinoRaidy) June 15, 2020
Today in Lebanon, you can get arrested if you critise the President and you can get arrested for saying the Lira is at 7000 if the Lira is at 5000- if you are corrupt and are involved in big theft you cannot be arrested # pic.twitter.com/oLgBWiO24Y
— samara (@Skazzi) June 15, 2020
aged like milk # https://t.co/VRDv3xRhV9
— hadrian (@citizeninastate) June 15, 2020
Poor #Lebanon, which is in economic freefall with hunger and poverty looming has decided to prioritize investigating tweets critical of President Michel Aoun (you can get two years in prison for that). Activists have responded with the rhyming hashtag # (Michel Sleep). https://t.co/C5Fnd0J2tL
— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) June 15, 2020
Ironically, Gebran Bassil had published this in 2013 in defense of Jean Assi who was arrested for libeling President Michel Sleiman at the time:
Arresting people for their tweets is outrageous. #
— Gebran Bassil (@Gebran_Bassil) June 18, 2013
What do you think of this decision?
More like this:
6 Journalists Were Assaulted While Covering Protests In Beirut And Tripoli On Friday
Heartbreaking Video: Lebanese Man Tells Security Forces “Shoot Us So We’d Die With Dignity”
