Lebanese Journalists and Activists Targeted in Escalating Crackdown

April 14, 2025 – Lebanon – 

In April 2025, Lebanese authorities intensified their pressure on independent media and civil society by summoning journalists and an activist for investigation over reports alleging corruption and misconduct within the country’s financial and political institutions. Journalists from Daraj Media and Megaphone News, along with the executive director of the advocacy group Kulluna Irada, were called in by the Cassation Public Prosecution Office following their involvement in investigative reporting about questionable appointments and financial practices within Lebanon’s central banking sector.

The charges against them include “undermining the financial standing of the state,” “destabilizing confidence in the national currency,” and “inciting deposit withdrawals.” These accusations have sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who view the legal actions as part of an escalating effort to silence dissenting voices and suppress reporting on state corruption.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued strong statements denouncing the proceedings, calling them a misuse of defamation laws and a dangerous attempt to criminalize journalism. They urged the Lebanese authorities to drop the complaints immediately and reaffirm the country’s commitment to press freedom and civic space. According to the groups, the actions threaten to entrench a culture of fear among journalists and activists working to hold those in power accountable.

This case is not isolated. Lebanon has witnessed a sharp increase in legal harassment targeting media workers and critics. Between 2019 and 2024, the Cybercrimes Bureau investigated over 1,600 defamation cases, with numbers rising significantly in the past year alone. Many of these cases have involved journalists, bloggers, and civil society figures who challenged the political or financial elite.

The recent summonses represent a deepening crisis for press freedom in Lebanon, where investigative journalism has played a critical role in exposing corruption and defending public interest. As international pressure mounts, rights advocates warn that continued repression could further undermine Lebanon’s democratic institutions and erode public trust. They emphasize that a free press is essential to meaningful reform, especially in a country facing ongoing political and economic turmoil.

Reference – 

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Condemn Judicial Proceedings Against Daraj and Megaphone

Lebanon: Journalists summoned and activists silenced

https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/14/lebanon-journalists-activist-summoned-investigations