End of security 'blacklists' in Lebanon: One month later, where do we stand?

Hailed as a “victory for human rights” and a break from Lebanon’s “police state” practices, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s decision to cancel security agency “blacklists” issued outside any judicial framework remains ambiguous a month after its announcement.Although security agencies have been officially notified of the June 6 directive, “it’s still too early to evaluate its implementation,” attorney Fida’ Abdellatif told L’Orient-Le Jour. Other security news Police summons of two journalists sparks outrage What are the ‘blacklists’?The so-called “interrogation documents” and “submission lists” date back to the era of Syria’s occupation of Lebanon (1990–2005). Though lacking legal foundation, these tools allowed security agencies to impose travel bans, administrative blocks and even arbitrary arrests — often based solely on informant...