Lebanese Media Under Attack: Proposed Laws Pose Threat to Journalists Covering LGBT Rights
Lebanon’s media landscape is currently facing a dire situation as proposed laws loom over journalists reporting on LGBT rights. The country’s LGBT community has been subjected to growing repression, and now two draft laws targeting the media could potentially criminalize the promotion of sexual deviance. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appealing to the Lebanese government and parliament to reject these proposals and prevent the crackdown on the media under the pretext of regulating sexual mores.
The first draft law, submitted by Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada from the Amal movement, a Shi’ite party aligned with Hezbollah, aims to punish any form of explicit or implicit promotion of abnormal sexual acts with fines or imprisonments of up to three years. If approved by the cabinet, the proposal will proceed to a vote in parliament. Simultaneously, former internal security forces chief Ashraf Rifi presented a bill to parliament suggesting a more severe punishment of up to five years’ imprisonment for those found guilty of promoting, facilitating, protecting, or inciting homosexual acts.
These proposed laws could specifically target journalists covering matters related to the LGBT community, warns Nizar Saghieh, a lawyer and researcher from Legal Agenda, a non-profit research and advocacy organization. Saghieh states that such restrictions on public debate would constitute a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, stressing that the government does not have the right to curb discussions on these matters.
Unfortunately, journalists who have already been reporting on sexuality and gender issues in Lebanon have become the target of cyberstalking and threats. Since Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah publicly called for action against homosexuality, cyberbullying and online threats against journalists have escalated. Hussein Chaabane, a freelance journalist covering various topics in Lebanese society, has faced insults and threats on social media platforms, including the public disclosure of his address. Joe Kawly, a news anchor at the Washington-based Arabic-language TV channel Alhurra and the first openly gay Arab journalist, has also received online threats of physical violence following Nasrallah’s speech. Kawly regards the proposed laws as surreal and dangerous for journalists, emphasizing that a free press serves as a fundamental pillar of democracy. He adds that criminalizing sexual acts and public debates on the subject restrains the public’s access to information on human rights issues and has a chilling effect on journalists who wish to address these topics.
Over the past year, numerous Hezbollah leaders have issued statements targeting the media, leading to severe consequences. Criticism of a satirical program by a prominent Shiite Jaafarite Mufti close to Hezbollah resulted in a grenade explosion at the LBCI television station’s parking lot. In another incident, the leader of Hezbollah blamed a particular television station for inciting an armed clash, leading to the violent cyberbullying of journalists at the station. These incidents demonstrate the dangers faced by media professionals in Lebanon.
The situation for journalists reporting on LGBT rights in Lebanon is critical. The proposed laws represent a substantial threat to press freedom and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders urges the Lebanese government and parliament to reject these laws and ensure the protection of journalists who are essential for informing the public and safeguarding democratic values.
