Lebanon's Attorney General, Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, ordered the arrest of journalist Hassan Aliq after he failed to appear for questioning over a post on X deemed offensive to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Lebanese media. Dozens protested in Beirut in support of Aliq, and a Hezbollah MP accused the authorities of selective enforcement.
The arrest warrant for journalist Hassan Aliq, issued Wednesday by Attorney General Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, stems from a post on X that Lebanese authorities deemed offensive to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, potentially harming bilateral relations. Aliq, who failed to report for questioning, faces a criminal investigation under regular penal law because the post was published on a social platform rather than in a press outlet subject to Lebanon's press law.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Beirut to support Aliq, calling for freedom of expression and accusing the government of silencing dissent. Some protesters also voiced opposition to normalization with Israel. Hezbollah MP Hussein al-Hajj claimed the summons was a result of "external pressure" on the Lebanese government and accused the authorities of selective enforcement.
Legal experts cited by Lebanese media noted that the case is being handled under standard criminal procedure, not under the press law. A support committee for journalists condemned the decision, warning it could undermine press freedom in Lebanon.
- DevelopingSaudi Crown Prince MBS Invites Lebanese President Aoun to Visit Kingdom
- StrongAbu Saleh: strike reported in Lebanon
- DevelopingJournalist Ganem Ibrahim reports strikes and shares footage from southern Lebanon
- DevelopingSaudi-adjacent daily: Yemen weighs blocking Bab el-Mandeb to Saudi shipping
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake