Event Summary
On June 28, 2025, Lebanese journalists Carine Abdel Nour and Bechara Charbel were verbally summoned by the Criminal Investigation Bureau after publishing an article on alleged political interference in judicial appointments and corruption probes. The summons lacked proper legal documentation and violated due process under Lebanese law, raising concerns about press freedom.
Abdel Nour refused to appear, citing procedural irregularities, while Charbel complied and appeared before the Prosecutor General on July 2. Abdel Nour reported that this incident was part of a broader campaign targeting investigative journalism, including internal destabilisation at her newspaper Al-Hurra, economic and political pressure, and coordinated online harassment. The campaign led to the suspension of Al-Hurra’s print edition and threats to journalists’ employment.
The incident drew criticism from civil society actors including press organisations as well as from parliamentarians, who warned that such actions undermine the enabling environment for media freedom in Lebanon by eroding institutional safeguards and intimidating journalists.