Beirut, July 21, 2010

Press release

SKeyes calls on the General Prosecution to investigate the threats

against journalists published in Al-Akhbar newspaper

Yesterday, the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar published dangerous statements,

citing an unknown „security source‟.
In truth, the statement is not a news item, as much as it is a direct and clear
death threat against journalists, should they dare to publish „information‟
regarding the international investigation into the assassination of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in particular those that refer to the possible
involvement of Hezbollah members in the assassination. This is while
bearing in mind that all information and news published regarding the
tribunal‟s indictment is just speculation or leaks from certain parties, and not
official information published by the tribunal.
What is striking here, and what is particularly dangerous is this: how does a
newspaper dare to issue death threats against colleagues, or at least “quote”
death threats against them? Is this act in line with the ethics of the
profession, and with the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression?
This is a particularly valid question since this is a news story that is clearly
not based on information, facts, names and sources, but is instead a
“message” with an obvious purpose: to intimidate journalists and stifle their
mouths!! Also, will Al-Akhbar itself adhere to this “advice”?
Based on the above, the SKeyes Centre for Media and Cultural Freedoms
calls on the General Prosecution to act on the matter as soon as possible,
whether by holding the newspaper accountable or by revealing the identity
of this “security source” who gave this statement and holding him
accountable.

Samir Kassir Foundation, Aref Saghieh Bldg.( Ground Floor), 63, Zahrani St., Sioufi, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel /Fax: 00961 1 397334, Mobile: 00961 3 372717, E-Mail Address: info@skeyesmedia.org