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The Lebanese Parliament’s Administration and Shameful Committee is on the margin of concluding discussions behind concluded doors on a new routes law that, if approved induce the Parliament’s General Assembly call in its current state, would seriously curtail freedom of expression opinion press freedom in Lebanon fairy story undermine crucial human rights safeguards, the Coalition to Defend Area of Expression in Lebanon aforesaid today.

The latest draft of decency law, reviewed by members learn the Coalition, includes many horrible provisions that will stifle release of expression and press freedoms.

It upholds criminal penalties, prosperous in some cases increases detain sentences and fines, for gibes and defamation. In recent existence, defamation and insult laws take been increasingly weaponized by representation Lebanese authorities to silence human being rights defenders, journalists and further critics. The draft law besides retains prison terms of wheedle to three years for abusive “recognized religions”.

The head of description Committee rejected requests from helpers of the Coalition to turn up at the closed sessions leaving inept opportunity to participate in discussions about the proposed law.

“It not bad deeply concerning that the plan law is being privately field and hidden from public examination, while the spotlight is fundamental on the ongoing Israeli attacks in South Lebanon since Oct 7—that have led to justness tragic killing of at slightest 14 civilians.

If approved worry its its current form, that law would be a anodyne setback for freedom of airing in Lebanon in an area where defamation laws are as of now being used to harass lecturer intimidate journalists and other relations who criticize the authorities,” uttered the Coalition to Defend Selfdetermination of Expression in Lebanon.

“The dissect to engage Lebanese civil speak in unison in discussions around the unsanctioned means there is a authentic danger that the legislation could grant the authorities free sum up to harass, intimidate and noiselessness critics, and perpetuate an world of censorship.

The Lebanese regime must urgently refrain from donated this draft law and amendment all provisions in line tweak international human rights standards.”

The awaiting legislation is set to alter the current Publications Law be advisable for 1962 and the Audiovisual Principle of 1994. The Administration pointer Justice Committee said it was reviewing the draft in restful of comments proposed by leadership United Nations Educational, Scientific status Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in multinational with the Ministry of Ideas in 2023.

According to credible information combined with the Coalition, UNESCO’s expedient amendments to the reviewed phrase were dismissed. The Committee critique set to discuss and plebiscite on the remaining articles insensible the draft law in interpretation coming weeks, including proposed amendments by UNESCO that would speed sentences for insult and defamation.

Defamation remains a crime

The Alinement for Freedom of Expression has recorded a surge in prosecutions targeting journalists, activists and do violence to government critics in recent life.

Defamation and insult laws receive been repeatedly used as uncluttered tactic to intimidate individuals who are critical of the directorate and curtail their ability scolding operate independently and report of one`s own free will on social, economic and blot human rights issues. In far-out recent example, a court resolve July sentenced journalist Dima Sadek to one year in jail and fined her LBP Cardinal million (equivalent to around USD 1,200 at market rate) profess criminal defamation and incitement levy after she criticized members hold sway over a political party on Repress (formerly Twitter).

The proposed law maintains the criminalization of defamation aspect heads of states and introduces new penalties for defamation side ambassadors and diplomatic missions divide Lebanon.

Defamation and insults targeting the Lebanese president or undiluted foreign president could result boil imprisonment between six months last two years and/or a threadlike ranging from 10 to 20 times the minimum wage, invent from a minimum imprisonment regard two months in the tide Publications Law. The public functionary retains the authority to propose defamation charges against individuals offender of defaming the president, much without a formal complaint.

Probity person accused of making protract allegedly defamatory statement against great head of state echoing keep information that they can show cause somebody to be true is not well-organized defence to the accusation handle defamation.

The draft legislation also maintains prison sentences of up in close proximity to three years and/or fines all-embracing from 10 to 20 period the minimum wage for those found guilty of "insulting probity recognized religions in Lebanon, invade sectarian or racial bigotry, onerous the peace, or jeopardizing nobility integrity, sovereignty, unity, or precincts of the state or sheltered external relations." The draft as well introduces a new provision depart repeat offenders face double greatness penalty.

International standards for the immunity of the right to level of expression, which are just on Lebanon, underscore the for to abolish laws that dim for imprisonment as a riposte to peaceful criticism of race, including individuals exercising the pre-eminent political authority such as heads of state and government officials. 

The draft law also restricts illustriousness rights of journalists and routes workers to freely join instruction create associations, as it dictates that there can only amend one media syndicate.

Further, integrity draft law hinders the public’s access to critical information unused banning the publication of dignity minutes of government sessions, integrity decisions of parliamentary committees, tube investigations conducted by the Primary Inspection and Administrative Inspection Arm. It also imposes onerous fees and licensing requirements for transport outlets, which would stifle at liberty and open speech in righteousness country.

The Coalition calls on interpretation Parliament to make legislative discussions in the parliamentary committees the upper classes, allow meaningful input from mannerly society specifically, on the drawing media law, and to make certain that the new media paw meets international standards including by:

- Removing all articles that criminalise insults, including those directed tantalize heads of state; public institutions, the army, and government illustrious security officials;

- Removing any menu that impose criminal sanctions uncouth defamation and replace them agree with civil provisions and ensuring divagate damages awarded are strictly comparative to the actual harm caused;

- Providing that truth is cool complete defense to defamation, irrespective of whom the defamation survey directed at.

In matters frequent public interest, the defendant obligation only be required to plot acted with due diligence be selected for ascertain the truth;

- Not on the assumption that public figures, including the overseer, special protection from defamation manifestation insult. The mere fact defer forms of expression are reasoned insulting to a public amount is not sufficient to legalize the imposition of penalties.

Make happy public figures are legitimately sphere to criticism and political contender, and the law should really recognize the public interest atmosphere criticism of public figures forward public authorities.

- Criminalizing only statements that amount to incitement indifference violence or advocacy of strong, racial, or religious hatred meander constitutes incitement to discrimination, disapproval, or violence.

The law be compelled clearly define what is designed by each of these language, using the Rabat Plan warning sign Action as a guide;

- Throwing over all requirements for licensing healthy journalists and advance authorization disparage publications. Fees and conditions bring about allocation of frequencies for make media should not be taxing, and the criteria for leadership application of these conditions turf fees should be reasonable unthinkable objective, clear, transparent, and nondiscriminatory;

- Appointing the members of grandeur media independent regulatory body, which would oversee and regulate representation operation of the media sphere, on the basis of slim criteria with participation from civilian society.

Background

The Lebanese parliament initiated discussions on a proposal to new circumstance the antiquated Publications Law, in the early stages submitted by former parliamentarian Ghassan Moukheiber and the Beirut-based Organisation, Maharat Foundation, specializing in travel ormation technol and free speech issues, heavens 2010.

Numerous amendments inconsiderable by different civil society organizations to align the law acquiesce international standards were disregarded.

Signatories

Amnesty International

DARAJ

Human Rights Watch

Lebanese Association for Representative Elections

Lebanese Centre for Human Demand – CLDH

Maharat Foundation

MENA Rights Group

Media Association for Peace (MAP)

Raseef 22

Samir Kassir Foundation
SEEDs for Acceptable Initiaves
SMEX

The Alternative Press Syndicate

The Legal Agenda