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HUMAN RIGHTS

Decline in freedom of expression during Aoun’s term in office, notes SKeyes

A new report on freedom of expression, published by the Samir Kassir Foundation, sheds light on an increase in violations against the media and cultural activities during the presidency of Michel Aoun

Decline in freedom of expression during Aoun’s term in office, notes SKeyes

Activists gather in downtown Beirut on July 24, 2018, to protest against a wave of interrogations of people making political comments on social media. (AFP)

On Oct. 31, Michel Aoun ended his six-year term as head of the Lebanese state. A report by the Samir Kassir Foundation's SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom published on Tuesday sheds light on a sharp decline in freedoms during this period, mainly in terms of freedom of expression, and lists more than 800 violations since 2016, bringing Lebanon “closer to authoritarian and police states,” the research center wrote.

These abuses include assassinations, armed attacks on media properties, attacks on journalists and activists by official and unofficial parties, summonses for interrogation, threats and intimidation, official or unofficial censorship of cultural works and activities, blocking of electronic content, prison sentences, trials by non-competent courts — such as the military court — as well as arrest and detention. These abuses also include the “excessive or unjustified” use of force against demonstrators and their trials before the military court.

The violations identified by SKeyes target activists and journalists first, followed by citizens and artists. Women are targeted less than men, who account for 80 percent of the cases.

The noose is tightening around civil society

In 2020, Lebanon refrained from signing the final declaration issued at the end of the Second Global Conference on Media Freedom, on the grounds that some expressions “contradict the Lebanese law, particularly those defending the right of homosexuals to freedom of expression and access to the media,” the report said.

SKeyes goes further, denouncing, especially in the last two years, “the upsurge of intimidation campaigns by political and religious figures against LGBTQI+ people.”

Read more:

LGBTQI+ in Lebanon: An ‘alarming and shocking picture’ of virtually erased lives

SKeyes also points out that since 2020, a decree has been reactivated requiring journalists, photographers and cameramen to obtain prior permission from the military for interviews or filming of ordinary citizens.

“The use of systematic repressive methods has been established by the political power in collaboration with the security services and prosecutors in order to silence critics,” SKeyes reported.

Most of the summonses are part of complaints of “defamation and slander” or “contempt” against politicians and security services.

A crime punishable by law

Although the Lebanese Constitution guarantees freedom of opinion and expression in speech and writing, and although Lebanon ratified international treaties ensuring this freedom, the Lebanese Penal Code criminalizes slander and defamation. These criminal law provisions are increasingly used against activists, journalists and all citizens who criticize the head of state on social networks, according to the report.

During Aoun’s term, the report documents that charges of “causing harm to the person of the president or his office” through publications on social networks or in the news media have increased to 29 charges, compared to five during the presidency of Michel Sleiman (2008-2014).

Facebook hosts the largest number of these recorded “offenses,” compared to other social networks like WhatsApp, Twitter or Instagram. These offenses were punishable by fines and prison sentences.

The report also noted that the summonses, arrests and investigations were carried out primarily by military intelligence, followed by state security, the police and General Security. To a very small extent, the Public Prosecutor’s Office or the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau were involved.

As a result, Lebanon has fallen 32 ranks on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index from 98th in 2016 to 130th in 2022.

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour

On Oct. 31, Michel Aoun ended his six-year term as head of the Lebanese state. A report by the Samir Kassir Foundation's SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom published on Tuesday sheds light on a sharp decline in freedoms during this period, mainly in terms of freedom of expression, and lists more than 800 violations since 2016, bringing Lebanon “closer to authoritarian and police...