Journalist Daoud Rammal. (Screenshot)
Daoud Rammal, a correspondent for Sky News Arabia, was attacked Saturday, Nov. 30 in Doueir (Nabatieh). On Monday, Dec. 2, he filed a complaint with the public prosecutor's office for “attempted murder, assault, bodily harm, insults and threats.”
The media outlet for which Rammal works had attributed the attack to Hezbollah and identified a member of the party, Hussein Sabbagh, as one of the attackers.
According to a source close to the case, the complaint was filed by the journalist's lawyers, Elie Kyrillos and Amin Bachir, against “Hussein Sabbagh and other people,” whose identities are expected to be revealed by the investigation.
During an appearance on Sky News, Rammal said that while he was visiting his mother's grave, members of Hezbollah hit him on the head, causing him to faint for a few moments.
After regaining consciousness, he headed to his family home where the assailants followed him and attacked him again in front of his 15-year-old son. Rammal also reported that the attackers accused him of spying for Israel and foreign embassies.
On Sunday, Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack, calling it an isolated incident that had nothing to do with the party.
According to the procedure to be followed, the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Jamal Hajjar, should transfer the journalist's complaint to the judicial police, which should investigate under his supervision.
In light of the investigation, the head of the public prosecutor's office will decide on the next steps.
‘Outlaw group’
Contacted by L’Orient Today, the head of the syndicate of journalists, Joseph Kossaifi, urged the judiciary to “assume its responsibilities,” asking it to “investigate until the identity of all the aggressors is determined.”
“Whatever the cause, we refuse to allow a journalist to be the victim of attacks and threats,” he added.
The syndicate had already expressed its solidarity with Rammal on Saturday.
After filing his complaint, the journalist thanked all his supporters, including trade union members, politicians and various associations.
“The attack I was subjected to at the hands of an outlaw group will only strengthen my determination to continue fighting until the very end. Regardless of the pressure and intimidation attempts aimed at silencing me, I will continue speaking out and denouncing any plans aimed at harming Lebanon or turning it into a bargaining chip or a battleground for settling scores,” he said.
This article was originally published in French in L’Orient-Le Jour.