Lebanon: media banned from inviting US ambassador for one year

Hamra Street in Beirut, May 18, 2020 (illustration image). REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir

Text by: Paul Khalifeh Follow

In Lebanon, a judge of summary decisions decided to prohibit during one year to all media, Lebanese or foreign, audio-visual or written, to interview the ambassador of the United States, under penalty of a heavy fine. At issue: the harsh criticism addressed by the diplomat to Hezbollah in an interview with a pan-Arab television channel.

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From our correspondent in Beirut,

It all started with a complaint sent by a young woman who believed that the US ambassador to Beirut, Dorothy Shea, was threatening civil peace and living together in Lebanon. The magistrate quickly reacted to this complaint sent by email, on a day when the courts were closed.

Mohammad Mazeh said that the words of the diplomat, who accuses Hezbollah of preventing any solution to the economic crisis, "  relate to Lebanese internal affairs and violate diplomatic customs and practices  ".

According to the judge, the ambassador's positions "  clash with the feelings of many Lebanese and constitute an incitement to community, sectarian and political dissent  ".

Dorothy Shea was quick to react. She said the US embassy "  will not be silenced  " and said it has received "an  apology from the Lebanese government  ". Information denied by the Minister of Information.

However, sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted by local media, considered that "  the judge's decision is contrary to international treaties and conventions  ".

This affair caused a lively controversy in the country. Social networks ignited between supporters and opponents of the judge's decision and the politicians displayed their deep divisions on this occasion.

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  • Lebanon
  • United States
  • Diplomacy
  • Media

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