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April 14, 2025 – Lebanon –
In April 2025, Lebanese authorities summoned journalists from independent media outlets Daraj Media and Megaphone News, along with Diana Menhem, executive director of the advocacy group Kulluna Irada, for interrogation by the Cassation Public Prosecution Office. The summonses were issued via phone calls without written notices or detailed explanations, raising concerns about due process and legal transparency.
The legal actions stem from a criminal complaint filed in March by three private lawyers, reportedly in response to the outlets’ critical coverage of candidates for the Central Bank governorship and their broader reporting on Lebanon’s financial crisis. The complaint accuses the media outlets of “undermining the state’s financial standing,” “receiving suspicious foreign funding,” and “conspiring against the security of the state.”
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the summonses as attempts to intimidate independent journalism and suppress freedom of expression. They argue that the use of vague legal provisions and criminal defamation laws in this context represents a dangerous escalation in efforts to stifle investigative reporting and civil society activism in Lebanon.
Critics also highlight procedural irregularities, noting that the summonses bypass the specialized Press Court, which is designated to handle cases related to journalistic work under Lebanese law. This deviation raises concerns about the impartiality of the legal process and the potential misuse of the criminal justice system to target dissenting voices.
In response to the summonses, Daraj Media and Megaphone News have refused to appear before the public prosecutor, asserting that their cases should be heard by the appropriate judicial body as stipulated by law. Their stance underscores the broader struggle for press freedom and the protection of independent media in Lebanon.
As Lebanon continues to grapple with political and economic challenges, the treatment of independent media outlets like Daraj and Megaphone serves as a litmus test for the country’s commitment to democratic principles and human rights.
Reference –
https://www.newarab.com/news/amnesty-urges-lebanon-drop-case-against-daraj-megaphone
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/14/lebanon-journalists-activist-summoned-investigations
