Al-Hourra journalists questioned over article involving Judge Hamadeh

BEIRUT — Carine Abdelnour, editor-in-chief of the digital weekly al-Hourra, maintained her refusal to appear in person before the Court of Cassations' prosecutor for questioning this week, opting instead to be represented by her lawyer, Jad Tohmeh. She was summoned again on Thursday, after declining to attend Monday’s session.

According to information obtained by L’Orient Today, Tohmeh appeared on her behalf before Advocate General Myrna Kallas, who told him that Lebanese law does not prohibit a journalist from appearing before the Court of Cassations' prosecutor. She added that, in practice, journalists are generally not summoned by the judicial police for questioning, out of consideration for their professional status.

Tohmeh responded that he and his client respect the judiciary and the authority of the Court of Cassations' prosecutor, but argued that, legally, only the investigating judge or the Printing Court has the power to question journalists.

Meanwhile, al-Hourra’s founding editor, Bechara Charbel, who had initially been summoned for Tuesday but was abroad at the time, voluntarily appeared before Judge Kallas on Wednesday — without receiving a second summons.

Speaking to L’Orient Today, Charbel said he had provided the magistrate with clarifications regarding the unsigned article at the center of the case. He explained that it was based on information already circulating in the media, concerning Zaher Hamadeh, deputy prosecutor at the Beirut Court of Appeal and a figure close to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The article claims that Judge Hamadeh "refused a mediation proposal made to facilitate his appointment to the position of financial prosecutor, under which he would commit not to delay or be selective in handling corruption files." It goes on to say that Hamadeh "insists that he has committed no wrongdoing in the Hannibal Gaddafi case" and is "ready to facilitate its resolution." The case concerns the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has been detained in Lebanon for years.

The article notes that "many human rights advocates consider that Hannibal Gaddafi is arbitrarily detained and is a hostage, especially since it has been established that he has no connection to the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr," the Lebanese Shiite community leader who disappeared during a visit to Libya in 1978.

Following his appearance, Charbel was released on bail.