-
Legal threat against the Economist shows hostility to press freedom in Lebanon

Four lawyers have formally accused an article by the Economist magazine of harming Lebanon’s public interest, as concerns over press freedom in the country continue amid fears of a worsening economic situation.
On Tuesday, the lawyers sent a legal notice to Lebanon’s prosecutor of cassation – the highest civil court reserved for issues deemed to harm public interest – regarding an article in the Economist titled “Broke in Beirut: A long-feared currency crisis has begun to bite in Lebanon.”
The lawyers — Khalil Qabbani, Rami Itani, Mohammad Doughan, and Sana al-Rifai — claim the article damages Lebanon’s reputation. According to another Beirut-based lawyer who knows the four lawyers and asked to remain anonymous, they are members of the “March 14” political alliance, a label which refers to the anti-Syrian regime political coalition led by Prime Minister Sathe Future Movement.
Doughan denied that their actions had political motivations and said the issue was a “national” one.
“What prompted us as lawyers to take action was the abusive exposure of the Lebanese flag, which offends every Lebanese citizen,” Doughan explained to Al Arabiya English.
“In addition, we considered that this article would undermine investor confidence in Lebanon at a time when we need them. It also undermines the state's economic standing,” he added.
Topped by an image of a damaged Lebanese flag in which the country’s national symbol, the cedar tree, is shown sliding off the edge, the article painted a bleak picture of the economy in Lebanon.
“Many ATMs have stopped dispensing dollars. Banks have quietly lowered withdrawal limits to $1,000 a day and imposed arbitrary rules, like banning dollar transactions after 5 p.m. and on weekends, that in effect bar workers from using their accounts,” wrote the Economist on October 5.
Silencing critics
The Economist’s article is the latest in a slew of similar articles and social media posts sparked by fears of a dollar shortage in Lebanon, where the Lebanese pound is pegged to the dollar.
The Lebanese central bank responded to fears by recently introducing a new fiscal mechanism to ensure the country can import wheat, medicine, and fuel at the standard pegged rate.
But the government has also taken a tougher response, threatening imprisonment against anyone spreading “false allegations” about the dollar shortage. The legal action against the Economist is just the latest effort to silence the narrative around the current economic situation.
On September 30, a statement released from Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s office said that “those who broadcast fabricated incidents or false allegations about a decline in the national banknotes to undermine confidence in the state’s robust liquidity and bonds ... will be sentenced between six months to three years in jail with a fine from LBP 500,000 ($331) to LBP 2 million,” according to Article 209 in the penal code.
The president’s office statement highlighted articles in the penal code that make it illegal to undermine confidence in the country’s currency or financial standing, and gave the green light for financial institutions and others to start prosecuting journalists and financial analysts, said Nermine Sibai, a Beirut-based lawyer focused on human rights.
Action has now been taken by multiple Lebanese political groups against journalists and media outlets and does not appear to be confined to one party.
“There is an
Freedom of expression under Lebanese law
Under Article 13 in the Lebanese Constitution, freedom of expression is guaranteed “within the limits prescribed by law.”
Those six words have further stipulations found in the penal code, the press law, the audio-visual law, and the military justice code, according to the 2014 EU-funded Assessment of Media Legislation in Lebanon. A 2018 e-transaction law makes it possible to block certain websites, added Najem.
These restrictions are visible in legislation such as Article 384 of the penal code, which allows imprisonment for six months to two years for insulting the president, flag, or national emblem.
The image of the damaged Lebanese flag and sliding cedar graphic in the Economist’s article could potentially be determined to be a violation of Article 384. According to the statement from the four lawyers, the “magazine’s actions damage the reputation and financial status of the Lebanese state and contempt the Lebanese flag and cedar.”
The lawyers’ statement also requested the magazine be withdrawn from markets, citing Article 50 of the Media Law that stipulates that the Minister of Information may decide to prohibit the entry of any foreign publication to Lebanon and confiscate its issues.
Prior to the Economist legal proceedings, another lawyer in Lebanon recently reported to a public prosecutor and asked that social media be monitored to identify fabricated news sources against the interests of the Lebanese state.
One journalist was brought in for questioning by the Cyber Crimes Bureau, for a tweet saying there were no dollars at a local branch of Societe Generale de Banque au Liban. He was later released after agreeing to delete the tweet.
The Cyber Crimes Bureau was established in 2006 without a legislative decree defining its mandate, according to a 2017 report from Freedom House.
Lack of freedom of expression
This series of events is in line with increased fear of declining freedom of expression in the country.
Lebanon ranks 101 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. According to their analysis, 2018 saw an increase in bloggers and online journalists receiving subpoenas from the Cyber Crimes Bureau.
In 2019, SMEX recorded so far 50 cases of people being detained or questioned by politicians or “powerful entities,“ up from 37 cases in 2018 and 16 or 17 cases in 2017, said Najem. In 2016, there were only six or seven cases. Most posts flagged were critical of politicians, security agencies, or the president.
Najem told Al Arabiya that there has been a clear effort to restrict civil space.
Another group, SKeyes, which monitors media in four Middle East countries, found there to be 62 prosecutions against journalists, artists, and activists in 2018.
When asked whether he was worried if his legal notice against the Economist would stifle press freedom in the country, Doughan replied: “Absolutely no.”
Tags
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!