Conflict Incident Report

Over 100 protesters gathered outside the Justice Ministry to demonstrate against what they said was increasing repression of Lebanon’s media and charges leveled against television presenter Marcel Ghanem. The demonstration brought together civil society actors, journalists and politicians to push back against what was described as the Justice Ministry’s “growing suppression” of the media.

Protesters also warned that any authority that attempts to stifle freedom of expression would not refrain from committing more serious crimes in the future, local TV channel LBCI reported.

The demonstration was led by Forum Beirut, an organization founded six months ago with the aim of bringing a range of individuals together in pursuit of press freedom and defending Lebanon’s Constitution. Speaking to the crowd, journalist Hana Saleh said, “We will ignore the ministry’s efforts to suppress the press,” and that “far bigger protests were planned.”