Reporter dead in Israel-Lebanon border skirmish

August 3rd, 2010

Al Jazeera is reporting that Assaf Abou Rahhal, a journalist with Lebanon’s Al Akhbar newspaper, was killed today in an exchange of fire between the Lebanese Army and the Israel Defence Forces. Read more here

Shiite publishers blacklisted at Bahrain book fair

February 11th, 2010

Twenty-five Lebanese Shiite publishing houses have been barred from exhibiting books during the annual fair in Manama on 17 March 2010. Al Wassat daily newspaper reports that although a black list has been issued by the Bahraini authorities, the publishing houses are yet to be officially notified. The Bahraini Ministry of Information denies responsibility for the ban and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights suggest it may have been issued by  the National Security Apparatus.

Saudi Arabia shuts TV station over sex row

August 11th, 2009

Saudi authorities have closed an office of an Arab TV station after it broadcast an interview with a man speaking frankly about sex and showing off erotic toys, a government official said today. Abdul-Rahman al-Hazza, spokesman for the ministry of culture and information, said the office of LBC, a Lebanese-based satellite TV station was closed because of the programme and because it was unlicensed. “The closure is indefinite,” Hazza said. The Saudi man, Mazen Abdul-Jawad, has been in detention since last Friday. Read more here

Egyptian writer prevented from travelling

June 23rd, 2009

Released political prisoner and writer Abd Al-Monem Monieb was detained in Cairo airport for 45 minutes by state security officers. Their actions prohibited him from travelling to Lebanon where he was due to publicise his book on Islam in Egypt. Read more here

Maharat Foundation

May 20th, 2009

The Maharat Foundation is a team of young journalists who experienced first-hand the difficulties faced by free press in Lebanon and the Arab world. They share a common vision of journalism that is freer and of a society that is more democratic.

Lebanese media at centre of battle

May 21st, 2008

Recent factional fighting in Beirut saw journalists come under attack, writes Charles Chuman

On 7 May 2008, Hezbollah and its allies in the Lebanese opposition began dismantling the authority of the Lebanese government. The army and police force could not respond to the situation, and the Lebanese opposition took control of Beirut’s streets.

Along with their systematic military takeover, Hezbollah and the opposition immediately began censoring the Lebanese media through direct intimidation, infrastructural destruction, and a disinformation campaign. Media analyst and former editor-in-chief of the Middle East Broadcasting Journal, Habib Battah, explains, ‘The media was a primary target in this campaign. It was one of the first things to be attacked as Hezbollah took control. They could have chosen other places to attack, but they chose the media.’
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