MPs Voice Solidarity with al-Jadeed, al-Akhbar as STL Spokesperson Says Trial before 'Independent Judge'

Several lawmakers voiced their solidarity on Wednesday with journalists of al-Jadeed TV and al-Akhbar newspaper, who were summoned by the international court on charges of “contempt and obstruction of Justice.”

Hizbullah's MP Hassan Fadlallah told reporters present at the parliament's press room that the move comes in light of the assault on the freedom of the Lebanese, slamming the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's action.

He called on the Lebanese government to take swift actions to defend the country's sovereignty, constitution and institutions.

The STL announced on Thursday that it has summoned Karma Mohammed Tahsin al-Khayat from al-Jadeed, as well as the station’s parent company New TV S.A.L., and Ibrahim Mohammed al-Amin from al-Akhbar, as well as the newspaper’s parent company Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. to appear before it on two counts of Contempt and Obstruction of Justice.

STL's spokesperson Marten Youssef said via Twitter on Wednesday that the journalists' trial will take place before an independent judge.

He also noted that the STL must guarantee that both the defense and the prosecution witnesses are not uncomfortable to testify.

“We should all take a stance to defend al-Jadeed, al-Akhbar and all media outlets,” Fadlallah added in the press conference.

He pointed out that constitution guarantees the freedom of the media, considering the STL's summons an attack against it.

Fadlallah called on all parliamentary blocs to put the stances from the STL aside and “voice solidarity with the Lebanese media.”

“Any journalist unveiling the corruption of the tribunal will have the same fate as al-Khayat and al-Amin,” the MP added.

For his part, Change and Reform bloc lawmaker Nabil Nicolas stressed the importance of “preserving the freedom of the media.”

“Media is a red line as long as it is reporting the truth as it is,” he told reporters.

Lawmakers for the following parliamentary blocs were present at the press conference Ahmed Karami, Fadi al-Awar, Walid Sukkarieh, Nawwar al-Sahili, Hagop Pakradounian, Emile Rahme, Abbas Hashem, Qassem Hashem, Hani Qobeissi, Ziad Aswad and Michel Moussa.

A meeting was held on Monday at noon in solidarity with the two journalists at the Press Syndicate to defend the “mere truth.”

In April last year, a list of 167 names of so-called witnesses for the former premier Rafik Hariri trial was published by a previously unknown group identified as "Journalists for the Truth".

The group said it wanted to "unveil the corruption" of the STL.

Both al-Akhbar and al-Jadeed published the list.

The STL, established at Lebanon's request, seeks to try five members of Hizbullah for the attack that killed former PM Hariri and 22 others on February 14, 2005, in Beirut.

The accused, who remain at large, may choose whether to appear at the court in person or by video-link. The initial appearances of the accused are scheduled for May 13, 2014.

Last week, several journalists rallied near the Ministry of Information in Beirut, to protest the STL's decision.

H.K.

M.T.