Journalist Bassel Al-Aridi, left, and Daoud Ibrahim at the Lebanese Press Syndicate Building Wednesday. (Legal Agenda)
BEIRUT — Journalist Bassel Al-Aridi filed a lawsuit against German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) at Beirut’s Labor Arbitration Council Wednesday, claiming compensation for his arbitrary dismissal, which he says is in violation of Article 50 of the Labor Law, reported Legal Agenda.
Here’s what we know:
• Aridi announced that he filed the lawsuit during a press conference held Wednesday at the Lebanese Press Syndicate Building in Hazmieh.
• “I went through this process because I’m quite confident that what happened [to] me is totally unfair,” Aridi told L’Orient Today. “I can’t be accused [of] anti-semitism by any [means] or way. There is a huge difference between anti-semitism and being against Israel.”
• Last month, Aridi and Daoud Ibrahim were among five Arab journalists terminated from their jobs with DW. Following a two-month investigation, the five were accused of posting “antisemitic” content on their private social media accounts.
• While he has yet to file a legal complaint, Ibrahim said that he and his lawyer are convening to discuss what is the best way forward. He told L’Orient Today that he hopes this lawsuit will clear his name. “My reputation and my career in the field can be harmed by [these] accusations.”
• Aridi served as senior reporter and documentary producer at Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed Television for a decade before becoming DW’s Beirut bureau chief. Ibrahim had served as DW’s freelance media trainer.