Freedom of speech is at the core of Lebanon’s democracy

Make fundamental rights and freedoms the heart of the Lebanese democracy

1.Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or sanction

2.“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

1.Number of political prisoners

2.Number of independent media

3.Freedom Status (freedom house)

4.Press Freedom Index (RSF)

5.Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI): Voice and accountability

6.Media Sustainability Index (IREX)

7.World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index (Factor 4): Fundamental rights

1.Politicized media serves as the mouthpieces of political parties or businessmen

2.Bloggers and online journalists may receive summons from the bureau for combating cyber-crimes if something they have posted on a social network elicits a complaint

3.Majority of the complaints related to defamation matters originate from political and religious figures

4.Lebanon’s criminal defamation laws are being used by the power to silence many of the activists involved in the nationwide protest movement policies

5.Since the October 2019 Revolution, protesters are being attacked by official security forces (tears gas canisters, rubber bullets…) and assaulted by partisan militiamen

6.Censorship exists around security issues and the defamation of public figures, which has led to stiff fines for some reporters

7.Security agencies called in at least 29 people for interrogation concerning free speech charges, including insult and defamation between October 17, 2019 and March 6, 2020

8.Activists and journalists are being charged for exposing corruption and peacefully expressing their opinions on social media

9.The military code of justice punishes insulting the flag or army with up to three years in prison

1.Media channels are extremely politicized and polarized

2.Barriers to entry for new media (legal, financial)

3.Prominent role of religious authorities and political parties

4.Role and mandate of the Bureau of Censorship

5.Censorship remains a problem both legally, and due to journalists’ self-censorship

6.Insult and defamation are criminal offenses in Lebanon, with prison terms of up to three years

7.Vagueness around notions such as “libel”, “defamation”, and “slander” allows for certain figures to exploit the law in their favor

8.The overbroad jurisdiction of the military courts grants officials in power a powerful tool for intimidation or retaliation against political speech or activism

1.Article 13 of the Lebanese constitution guarantees freedom of speech within the limits defined by the law

2.1972: Ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right. Article 19.2: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

3.Article 385 of the Penal Code criminalizes libel and slander against public officials

4.Article 384 of the Penal Code may result in imprisonment for up to two years against whoever insults the President, the flag, or the national emblem

5.1962: Establishment of the Publications Court (PC) the Publications Law, which examines the crimes of publications made through text, audio, or visual media

1.Subsidize the creation of independent media channels (Taxes and subsidies)

2.Invest in civic education in order to reinforce democratic sense in youth (Service provision)

3.Tax imports on surveillance tools (e.g.. facial-recognition surveillance, social media monitoring & targeted interception) (Taxes and subsidies)

4.Establish an elections audit unit that would prevent cyberattacks and interference (Institutional change: I.C.)

5.Initiate reforms on the media, penal, and civil codes regarding the legal framework of freedom of speech (I.C.)

6.Move the section on defamation from the penal to the civil code, and clearly define the terms “libel,” “slander,” and “defamation” (I.C.)

7.Decriminalize blasphemy and defamation, or insults to religion; only criminalize statements that amount to advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence (I.C.)

8.Do not grant public figures, including the president, special protection from defamation and prohibit government institutions, including the army and security agencies, from advancing defamation suits (I.C.)

9.Redefine more precisely the functions of the Cybercrimes bureau (Service provision)

10.Shut down the Ministry of Information (I.C.)