Hussein Illaik addresses President Joseph Aoun in a video that has widely circulated on social media. (Screenshot)
A pro-Hezbollah journalist, Hassan Illaik, has been the subject of a judicial order since Monday after Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Ahmad Rami al-Hajj instructed authorities to bring him in for questioning over posts on X criticizing Saudi Arabia, which he accused of imposing "a criminal blockade" on Yemen's northern governorates controlled by the Houthis.
The information was confirmed by a senior judicial source, who clarified that the measure is not an arrest warrant. Rather, Judge Hajj ordered the Internal Security Forces' Intelligence Branch to bring Illaik before the prosecutor for questioning.
Illaik responded immediately on X, claiming that Judge Hajj was appointed to his post last March "by decision of Yazid bin Farhan [the Saudi envoy to Lebanon]." He said he was not surprised to see the prosecutor "become an instrument of political power to suppress freedom of expression."
"Anyone who calls for the arrest of a journalist for criticizing Mohammad bin Salman [the Saudi crown prince] would do the same for criticism aimed at [Benjamin] Netanyahu," he wrote.
Illaik argued that the allegations fall under the jurisdiction of the Publications Court, while Judge Hajj maintains that he has the authority to question him because the comments were published on a social media platform rather than in a media outlet.
On Tuesday, Illaik published another post on X, claiming that Judge Hajj had ordered his arrest "under the guise of an arrest warrant."
"This is an abuse of power both procedurally — since Ahmad Rami al-Hajj issued the order before the scheduled date of my hearing — and substantively," he wrote, insisting that he had not broken the law.
"The only purpose of the decision to arrest me is to satisfy the 'Saudi guardian,'" he added before concluding: "Very well, Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, Nawaf Salam, Joseph Aoun, and you, justice minister of the banks [Justice Minister Adel Nassar]... In the name of God, let's begin."
Previous summons
Illaik had already been summoned last January by Judge Hajj's predecessor, Jamal Hajjar, after a video published on al-Mahatta YouTube channel responding to a speech by President Joseph Aoun marking his first year in office. In that speech, Aoun reaffirmed his determination to keep weapons exclusively in the hands of the state.
"You besiege your people, and we remain silent. You block reconstruction, and we remain silent. You carry out American orders, and we remain silent..." Illaik said at the time, addressing the president.
He added that "if Lebanon had a real state, real law and real justice," Aoun "should have been investigated rather than elected president."
Illaik also took part in the campaign against Aoun following the president's July 31, 2025, speech, in which he reiterated his commitment to ensuring that only the state possesses weapons and called for removing the "pretext" Hezbollah's arsenal gives Israel to carry out attacks in Lebanon.
The journalist responded by saying: "It is your words and those of the prime minister that are pretexts for the enemy."
'Tried and imprisoned'
Last June, Illaik also targeted Judge Hajj, saying he should be "tried and imprisoned" after the prosecutor ordered the arrest of Rabih Tawil at the request of French authorities and based on an Interpol notice.
Tawil, who owns a company specializing in electrical equipment, is suspected of involvement in importing materials allegedly used to manufacture drones for Hezbollah.
Questioned by the Internal Security Forces' Intelligence Branch, Tawil denied knowing that the imported materials would be used for that purpose. He was nevertheless referred to Government Commissioner to the Military Court Claude Ghanem, who filed charges and referred the case to First Investigating Judge Ghada Abu Alwan. She ordered Tawil's release on bail a few days later pending the outcome of the investigation.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
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