Activists Rally at Justice Palace in Support of Press Freedom
A number of civil society groups rallied Thursday outside the Justice Palace in Beirut in support of press freedom and to reject “the muzzling of voices.”
The activists raised pens in the air as a symbol of freedom of speech and carried banners defending the press.
“Lebanon is the Symbol of Freedom and Democracy, You Can't Change Lebanon's Identity”, read one of the banners.
Protesters stressed that they will not allow “the return of Lebanon to the tutelage era.”
The demonstration comes in the wake of the prosecution of Marcel Ghanem, one of Lebanon's most prominent talk show hosts, over an episode in which he hosted Saudi journalists who labeled the Lebanese president and parliament speaker as “terrorists.”
Prime Minister Saad Hariri voiced solidarity with Ghanem on Thursday, saying the case has been blown out of proportion.
Ghanem's episode was broadcast live last month, when tensions were very high between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia over the shock resignation of Hariri, announced from the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://mobile.naharnet.com/stories/en/239930 |