Association
Separately, in early July 2024, in light of the midterm of the Lebanon Universal Periodic Review coordinated by the Arab NGO Network for Development, several human rights organisations submitted a human rights report. The midterm report noted that:
Civic space for civil society continues to shrink, as authorities and security agencies increase their crackdown against civil society organisations, especially those among them providing services to Syrian refugees. The government now requires that associations get permission to enter refugee camps from governors and the Mosa. Authorities have also issued ad-hoc directives demanding NGOs’ internal data, data on their beneficiaries, etc. In addition, law enforcement officials, and even non-state actors, have used unauthorised and disproportionate force against protesters during anti-government demonstrations between 2019 and 2021.
Expression
During the reporting period violations against journalists, including defamation and assault, were noted, including:
*On 18th June 2024 Journalist Rami Naim was assaulted in Beirut by armed men. The armed men also threatened him against speaking negatively about Hezbollah, citing his opposition to the party.
* On 23rd June 2024, journalist Youssef Diab was subjected to an incitement, defamation and threat campaign on social media platforms. This backlash stems from an interview he conducted on the Arabic "Sky News" station, where he discussed a Telegraph report alleging Hezbollah's stockpiling of missiles at the airport.
Separately, in May 2024, the annual report on human rights conditions was issued by the National Human Rights Commission in light of available data. The report provides key findings on violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law.
With regard to freedom of expression the report noted that:
* Defamation and insult provisions have intensified to punish journalists and activists who criticise corruption, parties, and powerful individuals. These procedures are implemented after government officials, heads of political parties, or the directors of banks and religious institutions file complaints. Journalists and activists also face defamation and insult cases in connection with their journalistic work. These cases are processed before ordinary and sometimes military courts, in contrast with the Publications Law, which implies referring media and journalistic cases to the Publications Court only.
With regard to peaceful assembly, the report highlights the demonstrations of 2023 and states that the Lebanese authorities failed to protect – and sometimes violated – the right to peaceful assembly. An incident from 30th September 2023 is highlighted in the report, when participants of a march held in Beirut’s downtown under the title of “Freedom March” were kicked and hit by a group of youth under the pretext that the marchers were promoting homosexuality.