On 14 May 2026, Lebanon’s Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau informed Ali Khalife, a journalist, writer, academic and political activist, of a defamation and libel complaint filed against him, requiring him to appear the following morning at 10:00. According to a public account published by Khalife on Facebook and reported by SKeyes on 15 May 2026, the call came from a hidden number. The caller, identifying himself as Warrant Officer Mohammad Abu Khodor, declined to disclose the identity of the complainant or the subject of the complaint, stating that Khalife would learn the details the following day. When Khalife noted the procedural deficiency and indicated he would consult his lawyer, the caller reportedly requested that Khalife hand over his press card without any stated legal basis, and accused him of obstructing the process.
In a subsequent update, Khalife stated that his lawyer contacted the Bureau to postpone the appointment because he was outside Beirut, and the hearing was reportedly moved to Tuesday 20 May 2026. As of the date of this report, the identity of the complainant and the subject of the complaint remain unknown. Khalife stated publicly that, as a registered journalist, he would report all developments to the public and that he upholds freedom of expression. . He also published an update on X confirming the postponement.