A movement of solidarity emerged in support of Layal Alekhtiar, a Lebanese journalist with the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya channel, after the military prosecutor issued on Thursday a search and summon warrant against her for interviewing an Israeli officer.
Several political parties denounced the arrest warrant, including the Kataeb party which expressed its support for Alekhtiar and “all those who are victims of unjust campaigns against Lebanon.”
“Our country will remain the bastion of free expression,” a party statement said, condemning Hezbollah’s electronic campaign against journalists.
Alekhtiar and other journalists, including Dima Sadek (MTV), Nadim Kteich, (Sky News), Tony Boulos (Jusur Arabia, Independent) and Rami Naim (Alsiyasa) have recently been the target of a fierce defamatory campaign on social networks, waged against them by Hezbollah’s electronic army because of their hostile positions towards the pro-Iranian party.
“This is not the first time that the military court is in tune with the waves of repression,” reads the Kataeb statement.
The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) also denounced the arrest warrant. It said in a statement on Friday, “It is unacceptable to use judicial power for the purpose of persecuting people in any way, despite differences of opinion, particularly with regard to freedom of the press.”
Similarly, Charles Jabbour, spokesman for the Lebanese Forces, affirmed his support for Layal Alekhtiar. “It’s not enough to accuse the mafia, since the primary responsibility lies with the militia that nurtured the mafia in its midst,” Jabbour wrote on his X account (referring to Hezbollah).
Former MP Fares Souaid said on his X account that the decision was shameful and that “Lebanon must not be governed in an abusive manner.”
