The Lebanese Center for Human Rights denounces the summoning of journalists Lara Bitar from The Public Source and Jean Kassir, one of the owners of Megaphone news site, on 30/3/2023. According to Megaphone, the public prosecutor issued the summons against Jean after his name appeared in a publication titled “Lebanon ruled by fugitives from justice”.
CLDH highlights that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and must be respected. Journalists must be allowed to work without any legal or security pressures. We emphasize that summoning citizens on the street and blocking their way is not compatible with legal frameworks.
CLDH calls on the security and judicial forces to apply the laws in order to protect journalistic work. The judiciary must protect freedom of expression in accordance with article 13 of the Lebanese Constitution, article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is included in the preamble of the Lebanese Constitution, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed by Lebanon in 1972, as well as the Arab Charter on Human Rights by the Arab League which was adopted on 23/5/2004 and ratified by Lebanon on 8/5/2011. The charter stipulates freedom of expression, especially in article 32.
