Beirut Judge Charges 7 Protesters over Newspaper Assault
Beirut State Prosecutor for Appeals Judge Ziad Abou Haidar charged on Tuesday seven people accused of storming the offices of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper last week.
A group of activists briefly raided the offices of the Saudi-owned newspaper protesting a cartoon published in its Friday edition.
The cartoon depicted the Lebanese state as an April's fool joke, printing the Lebanese flag with the words "April's Fool" over it.
The cartoon deemed insulting provoked a storm over social media, with many, including politicians, demanding an apology.
Abou Haidar referred the seven suspects to Beirut First Examining Magistrate Judge Ghassan Owaidat.
Local internet celebrity Pierre Hashash is among the seven suspects. He was arrested on Saturday.
Other individuals involved in the assault have turned themselves in to the police.
G.K.
M.T.
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