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April 06, 2025 – Lebanon –
Zeina Yassine, a pioneering journalist at Lebanon’s state-run broadcaster Tele Liban (TL), has resigned, citing institutional bias against her for wearing a hijab. Yassine, who joined TL three years ago, was the first hijab-wearing reporter to appear on the channel and contributed to coverage during the 2023 Israeli assault on Lebanon.
In her resignation letter addressed to Information Minister Paul Morcos, Yassine expressed gratitude for her professional experience but highlighted the challenges she faced due to her hijab. She noted that while veiled women are celebrated abroad, they are marginalized at home, stating, “Perhaps the hijab I wear is causing discomfort to some of my partners in the country.”
Reports indicate that TL’s management refused to allow Yassine to appear on air permanently because of her hijab. An advisor to the Information Minister reportedly stated that the hijab “does not resemble the air of Tele Liban and it is a religious symbol.”
Yassine’s resignation has sparked widespread criticism from press freedom advocates and civil society groups. The Committee to Support Journalists condemned TL’s actions as a blatant violation of freedom of belief and called for a transparent investigation into the incident. They urged a review of the channel’s policies to ensure alignment with Lebanon’s constitution and the government’s commitment to removing barriers to women’s participation in public life.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by visibly religious women in Lebanon’s media industry and has reignited debates about religious freedom, gender equality, and media diversity in the country.
Reference –
Lebanon: Hijab-wearing reporter resigns from state TV over ‘bias’
https://www.newarab.com/news/hijab-wearing-reporter-resigns-lebanon-state-tv-over-bias
