Hizbullah Censures Public Prosecution Summoning of Journalist al- Amin

Local Editor

Hizbullah condemned the summoning of the colleague Ibrahim al-Amin by the Public Prosecution, issuing the following statement:
 
The official authorities in Lebanon, now and again deal in a malicious, arbitrary and unfair way with the most basic rights of citizens, including criticism and freedom of expression.

[This malicious attitude] also includes the rights of journalists to write freely and criticize the authorities and officials- the very basis of accountability which forms the core of the work of the press and media and the essence of a democratic system.

The referral of Mr. Ibrahim al-Amin's article to the Public Prosecution reflects poor performance and impatience of the state officials, who disrespect the public liberties.

The Hizbullah Media Relations calls on competent authorities to undo the hasty action, stressing its support to the colleague Ibrahim al-Amin. It also adds that public liberties must be respected away from any measures of repression.

Mr. Ibrahim al-Amin, the chief editor of al-Akhbar newspaper, wrote two articles in which he criticized president Michel Suleiman for referring to the "army-people-resistance" formula that had saved Lebanon for years by saying it is a "wooden" formula.

Source: Hizbullah Media Relations, translated by al-Ahed news