Lebanon: Military Court Issues Arrest and Search Warrant for Al-Arabiya Journalist Layal Alekhtiar
Warrant follows journalist’s interview with Israeli army officer.
Location: Lebanon
Date: November 16, 2023
Layal Alekhtiar, a prominent journalist with the pan-Arab channel Al-Arabiya, is under investigation by order of the Lebanese Military Court. The news anchor claims it follows complaints from Hezbollah supporters after her interview with an Israeli army officer last month. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by harassment of the Alekhtiar for doing her job. We demand the warrant be rescinded and an end to targeting of journalists by Hezbollah and its supporters.
On November 16, Layal Alekhtiar revealed that the Military Court in Lebanon issued a search and arrest warrant against her. In a statement on her Twitter account, Alekhtiar claimed the warrant was due to complaints submitted by supporters of Hezbollah under various pseudonyms. She denounces the action, asserting that it amounts to political persecution executed through judicial repression.
The catalyst for Alekhtiar's targeting was her recent interview with Avichay Adraee, an Israeli Defense Forces lieutenant colonel that drew the ire of Hezbollah's supporters. Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, tensions remain high, with the Lebanese group launching attacks on Israeli military positions, met with retaliatory strikes from Israel.
Following the interview, Alekhtiar faced an online smear campaign, escalating to threats against her life. The journalist, who is based in Dubai, says that Lebanese government insiders warned her not to return to Lebanon. Her family in Beirut is reportedly facing harassment.
In response to the warrant, Alekhtiar accused Hezbollah of attempting to divert attention from their alleged corrupt practices. "They [Hezbollah] are the ones who have looted the state, squandered the people’s money, and given up the country’s sovereignty and wealth, and are now diverting attention from their practices by suppressing freedoms under false pretenses," writes Alekhtiar.
Alekhtiar is not alone in facing such harassment. Several other journalists, including Dima Sadek (MTV), Nadim Kteich (Sky News), Tony Boulos (Jusur), and Rami Naïm (alsiyasa), have recently become targets of an aggressive smear campaign on social media by pro-Hezbollah accounts. Disturbing images circulated online depict Lebanese media personalities with blood-stained Stars of David, accusing them of complicity in the massacre of children in Gaza.
Hezbollah is a Shiite political and military organization based in Lebanon. It is known for its heavily armed forces, funded and equipped by Iran. Hezbollah's relationship with the Lebanese state is complex, and operates as a hybrid actor, holding state legitimacy through political representation while exerting influence both within and outside state institutions. While its powerful military wing operates independently, maintaining its own arsenal of weapons, which is a source of tension within the country.
Hezbollah supporters critical of Alekhtiar are now using the military court to escalate their harassment against her. Concerns have been raised about the extension of the Lebanese Military Court's jurisdiction to try civilians for offenses that should be handled by civilian courts. Critics argue that the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians is problematic and can be misused by state authorities to intimidate or retaliate for political reasons, as well as to suppress dissent.
Undeterred by the threats and legal harassment, Alekhtiar asserted her commitment to her Lebanese and Arab identity and her right to report freely. "I will remain Lebanese and Arab until my last breath, and you will never be able to touch my freedom, my dignity, and my beliefs," she says.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns these actions against Layal Alekhtiar and other targeted journalists by Hezbollah supporters. The issuing of a warrant against her is unacceptable legal harassment with no justification and questionable jurisdiction. We urge the Lebanese Military Court to uphold freedom of the press by ending its investigation into the journalist and immediately rescinding the warrant against her.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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