In Lebanon, a comedian finds himself at the heart of a debate on freedom of expression. Since Friday, August 25, military justice and then civil justice have launched proceedings against Nour Hajjar because of remarks made in his sketches. The actor was arrested for a few hours this Tuesday, August 30. Finally released, he remains pursued. And his friends, relatives and supporters denounce an attack on freedom of expression.
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It was first of all a joke about the army which triggered Nour Hajjar’s legal troubles. There economic crisis which is hitting Lebanon has caused a collapse in military salaries and the comedian joked about the fact that “ all » couriers who deliver purchases and restaurant meals to homes “ are in the army “. And he imagines the turn of a new conflict in the current economic context of Lebanon: “ We will see thirty mopeds arriving at the border ! Just one rocket and we splash Israel with honey mustard sauce! » This joke earned Nour Hajjar a first summons to the military police on Friday: an eleven-hour hearing.
The actor presented himself again to the police on Tuesday but this time was transferred to the civil court of Beirut. The highest Sunni authority in the country, Dar al-Fatwa, had requested the opening of a judicial investigation against him. In question: another sketch in which he mocked the behavior of his relatives during religious rites. According to his lawyer, the comedian was then placed under arrest.
As a gesture of support, about thirty people gathered in front of the courthouse. Finally released in the evening, Nour Hajjar was then acclaimed. But several NGOs, both Lebanese and international, denounce these two procedures as attacks on freedom of expression: “ Today is Nour Hajjar. Tomorrow it could be you writes on X (ex-Twitter) the deputy regional director of Amnesty.
Freedom of expression in #Lebanon is under attack
The authorities are intimidating those who criticize them, primarily using criminal insult & defamation laws.
Today it is #NourHajjartomorrow it could be you.
Call on parliament to repeal these laws: https://t.co/BDli991vUr
— Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) August 29, 2023
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