Introduction
On 31st July 2025, the Lebanese parliament adopted a law that advances judicial independence in some respects. However, the law also includes concerning provisions, as it allows Lebanon’s government-appointed top public prosecutor to order other prosecutors to cease ongoing legal proceedings and limits the ability of Lebanon’s highest judicial body to overcome government gridlock and obstruction in judicial appointments.
“While the law is progressive in many ways, unaddressed gaps continue to threaten the independence of the judiciary and open it up for continued political interference.”- Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/15/lebanon-judicial-reforms-positive-but-fall-short
The Lebanese Judges’ Association criticised the law, stating that it “reinforces sectarianism, renews political interference in the judiciary, and reaffirms the Supreme Judicial Council’s deprivation of any independence, administrative or financial.” HRW also noted that during the legislative process, the inputs of civil society were largely ignored.
Separately, in September 2025, marking one year of Israel's military aggression against Lebanon, Amnesty International called on the Lebanese government to urgently grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes on Lebanese territory since October 2023 and to ensure justice for victims. Earlier in August 2025, Amnesty International also called on the Lebanese government to deliver justice for the victims and their families, marking five years after the Beirut port explosion on 4th August 2020, which killed over 200 people. It noted that the investigation thus far has been obstructed and marred by political interference and called for a “comprehensive and unobstructed investigation.”
Association
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the public prosecution summoned journalists from Daraj and Megaphone, two Lebanese media organisations (see more under expression) and the executive director of Kulluna Irada, an advocacy group, for investigative hearings on 15 April 2025, under criminal defamation laws. It is believed that the groups were targeted for their work, which exposed government corruption in the financial sector. Kulluna Irada is accused of publishing false or exaggerated information “that seeks to weaken the morale of the nation,” “undermine the prestige of the state or its financial standing,” and “to cause a decline in the value of national banknotes or undermine confidence in the strength of the state’s currency, its bonds, and all other securities related to public financial confidence.” Furthermore, the organisation has also faced a smear campaign on social media and traditional media outlets.
“Once again, we are witnessing the weaponisation of criminal defamation laws and other dubious legal provisions in order to stifle attempts to shed light on years of financial malpractices,” said Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/14/lebanon-journalists-activist-summoned-investigations?utm_source=chatgpt.com
According to HUMENA, Lebanese economists have also been targeted for making recommendations which are believed to threaten the banking sector’s lobbying interests.
A new report by SMEX, a digital rights organisation, published in April 2025 found significant challenges for digital feminist activism in Lebanon. It found that feminist activists experience gendered cyberviolence driven by patriarchal norms and misogyny. Political groups use digital tactics to target and silence activists, while legal intimidation and the misuse of laws further constrain their freedom.
“Activists supporting marginalized communities—such as LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, migrant workers, and those advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR)—are especially vulnerable, with online hostility frequently escalating to physical violence.”
- https://smex.org/research-report-confronting-structural-silencing-challenges-and-resistance-among-digital-feminist-activists-in-lebanon/
Peaceful Assembly
Several protests were staged during the reporting period:
● On 15th February 2025, several supporters of Hezbollah staged a protest near Beirut airport after the Lebanese government blocked an Iranian flight to Beirut. The government's decision came following Israel's accusation that Iran is using civilian aircraft to smuggle money to Beirut to arm the Lebanese group, Hezbollah. It is reported that the Lebanese army used tear gas against protesters.
● Following an announcement by the Lebanese government of a disarmament plan for Hezbollah, as part of a US proposal regarding the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, protests were staged by supporters of the group in several cities on 8th August 2025.
● Protests have also been staged at several large universities in Beirut in solidarity with the Palestinian people and Gaza.
● On 25th August, 2025, hundreds of people protested against the visit of the US special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrak. Following this, Barracks' visits to Tyre and the border town of Khiyam were cancelled due to the demonstrations.
● In September 2025, retired Lebanese security forces staged protests in Beirut by blocking key roads to demand better salaries and pensions. Following two protests, the government agreed on six key points concerning financial matters and pensions for retired army personnel.
Expression
In September 2025, several local and international organisations raised concerns via a joint letter regarding a draft media law under consideration by the parliament. An earlier version of the law, submitted to parliament in May 2025, included several positive proposals for freedom of expression, such as repealing criminal defamation and insult provisions from Lebanon’s penal code and military judiciary law. However, in August 2025, members of parliament put forward several concerning amendments. This includes unlawfully restricting the work of media organisations facing legal complaints and an administrative requirement for licensed television stations to submit regular reports, including editorial programming information, to the Information Ministry and the National Council for Audiovisual Media. It may also introduce the requirement for electronic media to be subjected to a prior licensing regime rather than a notification regime
Attacks on journalists by Israel
Since October 2023, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged cross-border fire. However, in September 2024 Israel significantly escalated its attacks targeting protected persons, including journalists, health workers, peacekeepers, and emergency responders and has killed thousands of civilians. On 25th October 2024, Israel targeted a compound housing 18 journalists, killing three journalists. In November 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 51 other NGO’s called for an immediate ceasefire between the parties. CPJ noted that it has documented the death, displacement, assaults, obstructions, detentions, and unsafe conditions for journalists in Lebanon.
Cases perpetrated by Israeli forces include:
● Airstrikes on media facilities including: Hezbollah-affiliated religious TV channel Al-Sirat, local radio station Sawt Al Farah, pro-Hezbollah broadcaster Al-Mayadeen.
● In September, reporter for the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, Amal Khalil, received death threats from an Israeli number.
● On 17th October 2024, Al Jazeera evacuated its studios in Beirut due to multiple bomb threats later determined to be fake by unnamed security sources.
● In Feburary 2025, the Israeli army opened fire at members of the Al-Araby TV crew, and fired bullets and stun grenades at several journalists, including Al-Akhbar correspondent Amal Khalil, freelance journalist Mohammad Zanaty, and Al-Mayadeen correspondent Jamal Al-Gharbi.
● In May 2025, Israeli forces opened fire on Middle East Images photographer Courtney Bono in Houla.
● In August 2025, the director of the Hawana Lebanon website, Mohammad Shehadeh, was killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted his car in southern Lebanon (08/08). Journalist Rami Naïm was subjected to a smear campaign and death threats, while the family members of Asas Media managing editor Mohammad Barakat faced harassment because of the journalist’s anti-Hezbollah political views.
Attacks against journalists have also been carried out by Hezbollah and its supporters. For instance, in December 2024, Hezbollah members assaulted Mahmud Shokr, a correspondent for Al-Arabiya. In February 2025, Journalist Dima Sadek was subjected to a smear campaign over her anti-Hezbollah positions.
In addition, as reported by the Samir Kassir Foundation, during July 2025, Lebanese journalist and activist Hajar Knio was questioned by the General Security Intelligence Branch under an order from Judge Fadi Akiki, assistant government commissioner to the military court, over allegations of “collaborating with Israel.”Lebanese law strictly prohibits any contact with Israeli authorities. Such actions are considered crimes, punishable by imprisonment. The journalist denied the charge and responded, “I challenge anyone to prove even a single word accusing me of communicating with an Israeli or any internal or external intelligence agency.” Earlier in January 2025, Lebanese journalist Layal Ikhtiyar was briefly detained upon arriving in Beirut, over her interview with Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee on al-Arabiya. She was released on the same day after being questioned by a judge.
Deportation of poet
On 14th December 2024 Abdulrahman Youssef al-Qardawi, an Egyptian-Turkish poet, was arrested by Lebanese authorities upon his return from Syria. Egyptian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have accused Al-Qardawi of incitement to destabilise the state and spreading false news, after he posted a video during his trip to Syria in which he criticised the Egyptian regime. On 8th January 2025, the poet was unlawfully deported to the UAE. In a statement, Human Rights Watch raised concerns over Al Qardawi’s deportation, given that he would face a near-certain unfair trial and serious risks of other abuses, including torture.