General Abbas Ibrahim (R) and his successor, General Elias Baissari. (Credit: Nabil Ismail/Annahar)
BEIRUT — Acting director of General Security Elias Baissari defended on Tuesday last week's decision to deport Kuwaiti journalist Fajr al-Said, known for her stance against Hezbollah and her calls for normalization between Arab countries and Israel, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The deportation, upon Said's arrival at the Beirut airport, provoked an outcry in the country.
Baissari told a gathering of journalists that decisions to refuse visas are taken on the basis of Lebanese "sovereignty."
"Any decision concerning a refusal to issue an entry visa is a sovereign decision that Lebanon is not required to justify, except in the context of diplomatic affairs," Baissari said.
Journalist al-Said was refused entry to Lebanon on arrival at Beirut International Airport on June 7. At the time, she said she had been informed by General Security of a "permanent ban" on her stay. She said believed the measure was linked to her political opinions.
Baissari asserted that the journalist's deportation was not aimed at Kuwait, according to the NNA.
"I hope that any measure of this type will not be interpreted as being directed against a brotherly or friendly country, because I am very attached to maintaining a special relationship with brotherly Arab countries, and this position is that of the political authorities in Lebanon, in particular that of the Interior Minister," Baissari said.
"We have nothing against Ms. Said, but she cannot afford to openly promote normalization with the Israeli entity, which is our enemy, and our laws provide for sanctions for those who call for normalization with it," Baissari added.
Former General Security Director General Abbas Ibrahim said last Thursday that he himself took the decision to ban the Kuwaiti journalist from entering Lebanon, while he was still in office. He did not explain his reasons.