HRW Urges Release Of Young Man Who Criticized Lebanon Officials
A rights group on Monday slammed Lebanese authorities for detaining and charging a man over a Facebook post critical of public officials including President Michel Aoun.
Human Rights Watch said activist Ahmad Amhaz's arrest was part of a "troubling pattern."
"The authorities should free Ahmad Amhaz and drop the charges against him, and parliament should repeal vague and overbroad laws that criminalize free speech," said HRW's deputy Middle East director Lama Fakih.
Amhaz was detained on March 21, apparently over a February Facebook post that criticized Lebanon's president, premier and speaker of parliament.
On Monday, he appeared before a judge who issued a formal arrest warrant, said Ayman Mhanna, director of Skeyes, a press freedom NGO.
"This is the first time someone is detained pre-trial. This is why we're very concerned," he told AFP.
"What's also worse is the head of the bar association issued a gag order against the (defense) lawyer, who can't talk to the media."
Lebanese law criminalizes libel and defamation of public officials, and those found guilty of insulting the president, flag or the national emblem face up to two years in jail.
"Laws that allow imprisonment in response to criticism of individuals or government officials are incompatible with Lebanon's international obligations to protect freedom of expression," HRW said, adding that the terms "libel", "defamation" and "insult" were ill-defined in Lebanese law.
"We think this is very dangerous," added Mhanna.
"This is not about defending insults. It's that issues of libel, slander and defamation should be seen as civil cases."
Lebanese authorities have periodically detained and even sentenced citizens for criticizing public officials, but the accused are often pardoned or have their sentences commuted.
Last June, a prominent lawyer was arrested after accusing government officials of possible complicity in a sex trafficking ring.
And in 2014, a Lebanese web developer was sentenced to two months in jail for insulting then president Michel Suleiman on Twitter, although the sentence was eventually overturned.
Welcome to Hizbollahstan in what used to be known as Lebanon compliment of Aoun, Berri, Harriri and the grand inquisitor Nassrallah!
a lot of commenters here should be arrested for libel defamation and sectarian incitement.
btw, it's funny that naharnet doesnt mention the fact that hariri was targeted by Ahmad Amhaz's post
This report by "Terrorist" (RIP) got him banned from Naharnet. He rewrote what Amhaz wrote, basically saying that 'Aoun, Berry, and Hariri are the sons of Bachar Al Assad.' I shall never forget this moment of History right here.
edit: he wrote 'Aoun, Berry, and Hariri are the sons of Hafez Al Assad.'
slight difference.
the heretic iranian says " it's funny that naharnet doesnt mention the fact that hariri was targeted by Ahmad Amhaz's post"
but the sectarian is blinded by his hatred it did not read the article before posting its vomit.
"Amhaz was detained on March 21, apparently over a February Facebook post that criticized Lebanon's president, premier and speaker of parliament."
I guess the premiere above does not mean Hariri !
the article was printed 23 hours ago and you commented on it 20 hours ago with your stupid comment. So did naharnet change the article 3 hours later (when you posted )and excluded the part where it says ""Amhaz was detained on March 21, apparently over a February Facebook post that criticized Lebanon's president, premier and speaker of parliament."
filth !
Amhaz was detained on March 21, apparently over a February Facebook post that criticized Lebanon's president, premier and speaker of parliament.
We are all Ahmads! These corrupt politicians and ruling class should be tried and executed.
yalla21, I meant Hafez El Assad.... pretty much the same but just for accuracy's sake because Amhaz's life and future is compromised.
Aoun Is a God a thief but a God , How dare anyone question the manners that he and his ignoramous pompous son in law abscond our funds ?
How dare anyone question the manner Bassil and Aoun abscond our funds ? Lock him up and throw away the key ... deep in the sea