The Freedom of Expression Coalition Calls on the Tripoli Bar Association to Revoke Its Circular Imposing Prior Censorship on Lawyers’ Freedom of Expression
The “Freedom of Opinion and Expression Coalition” in Lebanon condemns the circular issued on May 6, 2025, by the Tripoli Bar Association, which requires lawyers to obtain prior authorization from the Bar President before any media appearance “on all media outlets and social media platforms”. The Coalition considers this measure to be an unjustified restriction on freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by Article 13 of the Lebanese Constitution.
The Coalition, which is composed of 16 Lebanese and international organizations dedicated to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression, emphasizes that “the right to express opinions is an inherent part of the natural rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and violating it constitutes a breach of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers”. The Coalition affirms that “lawyers have the right to participate in public debate on issues related to law, justice, and the promotion of human rights without being subjected to any restrictions of any kind under the pretext of their legal work or membership in the Bar Association”.
The Coalition reiterates its legal position that the codes of professional conduct for lawyers must be amended by the Bar Associations of Beirut and Tripoli, and that such circulars must be revoked in order to guarantee the right to freedom of expression for all their members. It also calls for refraining from attempting to exercise prior censorship over lawyers and from restricting their ability to express their opinions and views on public issues, as well as their role in providing citizens with information and data that help expose violations by officials.
The Coalition recalls its opposition to the amendment adopted by the Beirut Bar Association Council on March 3, 2023, to the Code of Professional Conduct for Lawyers, which imposes on lawyers the requirement to obtain prior authorization from the Bar President before any media appearance or participation in legal seminars. The Coalition also denounced the decision of the Beirut Court of Appeal to reject the two appeals filed against these amendments, considering this decision a setback for the rule of law and freedom of expression in Lebanon.
