MPs Voice Solidarity with al-Jadeed, al-Akhbar as STL Spokesperson Says Trial before 'Independent Judge'

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Several lawmakers voiced their solidarity on Wednesday with journalists of al-Jadeed TV and al-Akhbar newspaper, who were summoned by the international court on charges of “contempt and obstruction of Justice.”

Hizbullah's MP Hassan Fadlallah told reporters present at the parliament's press room that the move comes in light of the assault on the freedom of the Lebanese, slamming the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's action.

He called on the Lebanese government to take swift actions to defend the country's sovereignty, constitution and institutions.

The STL announced on Thursday that it has summoned Karma Mohammed Tahsin al-Khayat from al-Jadeed, as well as the station’s parent company New TV S.A.L., and Ibrahim Mohammed al-Amin from al-Akhbar, as well as the newspaper’s parent company Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. to appear before it on two counts of Contempt and Obstruction of Justice.

STL's spokesperson Marten Youssef said via Twitter on Wednesday that the journalists' trial will take place before an independent judge.

He also noted that the STL must guarantee that both the defense and the prosecution witnesses are not uncomfortable to testify.

“We should all take a stance to defend al-Jadeed, al-Akhbar and all media outlets,” Fadlallah added in the press conference.

He pointed out that constitution guarantees the freedom of the media, considering the STL's summons an attack against it.

Fadlallah called on all parliamentary blocs to put the stances from the STL aside and “voice solidarity with the Lebanese media.”

“Any journalist unveiling the corruption of the tribunal will have the same fate as al-Khayat and al-Amin,” the MP added.

For his part, Change and Reform bloc lawmaker Nabil Nicolas stressed the importance of “preserving the freedom of the media.”

“Media is a red line as long as it is reporting the truth as it is,” he told reporters.

Lawmakers for the following parliamentary blocs were present at the press conference Ahmed Karami, Fadi al-Awar, Walid Sukkarieh, Nawwar al-Sahili, Hagop Pakradounian, Emile Rahme, Abbas Hashem, Qassem Hashem, Hani Qobeissi, Ziad Aswad and Michel Moussa.

A meeting was held on Monday at noon in solidarity with the two journalists at the Press Syndicate to defend the “mere truth.”

In April last year, a list of 167 names of so-called witnesses for the former premier Rafik Hariri trial was published by a previously unknown group identified as "Journalists for the Truth".

The group said it wanted to "unveil the corruption" of the STL.

Both al-Akhbar and al-Jadeed published the list.

The STL, established at Lebanon's request, seeks to try five members of Hizbullah for the attack that killed former PM Hariri and 22 others on February 14, 2005, in Beirut.

The accused, who remain at large, may choose whether to appear at the court in person or by video-link. The initial appearances of the accused are scheduled for May 13, 2014.

Last week, several journalists rallied near the Ministry of Information in Beirut, to protest the STL's decision.

H.K.

M.T.

Comments 17
Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 12:19

It's ironic really... he talks about freedom of the media, but it is his black shirts that burned down the Future Building...

Thumb ibinherathreik 30 April 2014, 13:20

“We should all take a stance to defend al-Jadeed, al-Akhbar and all media outlets,” Fadlallah added.

He pointed out that constitution guarantees the freedom of the media, considering the STL's summons an attack against it.

it's ironic really... he talks about freedom of the media, but he is allied with and fighting with the syrian regime that attacks the media and does not allow media coverage in syria!

Thumb ibinherathreik 30 April 2014, 13:23

Lawmakers for the following parliamentary blocs were present at the press conference Ahmed Karami, Fadi al-Awar, Walid Sukkarieh, Nawwar al-Sahili, Hagop Pakradounian, Emile Rahme, Abbas Hashem, Qassem Hashem, Hani Qobeissi, Ziad Aswad and Michel Moussa.

thugs from 3asheerit 8 zi3raan who are allies with the syrian regime that prohibits freedom of media! how ironic.. dont you think?

Thumb ibinherathreik 30 April 2014, 20:44

big john the qawmi from koura defending ssnp lolll what in world are you talking about? you make up news? where is hizbullah terrorist who tried to blow up al jadeed? what about syrian regime firing at lebanese journalists? ever hear of salim louzi?

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 14:13

Ya Southy! The False witnesses case was prior to the STL... one of the first acts of the tribunal was to release them. Get over it!

http://www.stl-tsl.org/en/ask-the-tribunal/can-the-stl-consider-the-issue-of-the-so-called-false-witnesses

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 April 2014, 18:16

Southern - still making up stories??? I have never seen a criminal accept to go to trial voluntarily. Why when this criminal has an army that is stronger than the national army and fanatical followers who will support it no matter what?

Thumb ibinherathreik 30 April 2014, 20:45

villager why didnt your 3asheerit 8 zi3raan cabinet address the false witnesses issue?

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 14:37

The truth hurts... exactly southy!

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 15:26

Ya habibi, Ya Southy, it is not the STL who put in jail the Generals, and no one has been proven innocent or guilty yet! Get your facts straight and open a link when someone sends u one!

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 15:27

I reported nothing! I only report vulgarity regardless of the side of the commentator ya Southy...

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 15:29

Not only you're not familiar with the case, but you drop a lot of BS on this forum ya Southy... you're not credible...

Thumb thepatriot 30 April 2014, 15:31

It is the likes of you who have decided since day 1 that this tribunal was political to discredit it. If it was... why would it have released the suspected Generals ya habibi...?

Thumb cedre 30 April 2014, 15:38

jail this criminal journos...

http://youtu.be/mC57U7G63tM

Thumb beiruti 30 April 2014, 15:57

Now this is a joke. The "news media" in Lebanon is little more than a propaganda wing for which ever party is sponsoring the "news". And for this bunch, Hezbollah and their fellow travelers to cite violation of the Lebanese Constitution, well, that's more than a joke. Hezbollah's maintenance of an organized, uniformed military force on Lebanese soil with its own weapons and own foreign policy separate and apart from the constitution, now that's a violation of the constitution, not the summonsing of a couple of party mouthpieces to The Hague.

Thumb beiruti 30 April 2014, 16:48

Which of course proves the point, bigjohn. They are "leftists" by your description. Maybe you are a leftist too, and that's fine. But a journalist is a neutral observer who does not have a personal, political or financial agenda. They work under a public trust to gather the news and to report objectively. This is the right protected by the constitution, not the right to use the professional of journalism to promote your own agenda, whether its left wing, Hezbollah, Future, Aounist, etc.

Thumb cedre 30 April 2014, 17:38

excellent videos red1...

Missing hajjradwan 30 April 2014, 20:15

Seriously just be yourself the human condition is the same everywhere even when the cultures are different. Chinese-Swedish means that she's inherently been exposed to at least two extremely different cultures and your differences won't be a drawback at all. Humor usually works best to break the ice. If things go further it means that you have more in common than you think. Later you'll teach her about your culture she of hers. One word of warning and I speak from personal experience, if you plan to come live in Lebanon be ready for snickers of disapproval and unwelcome comments from some of the locals, if you can learn to grow some thick skin you can be happy. Good luck

PS: Yeah I forgot the Volvo made rickshaw.