Prosecution Sues Comedian Hisham Haddad over MBS Remarks

The public prosecution has filed a lawsuit against the comedian Hisham Haddad, the host of 'Lahonwbas', Lebanon's most watched satirical TV show.

“At the request of State Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud, Mount Lebanon attorney general Judge Ghada Aoun has referred a lawsuit against the journalist Hisham Haddad to the Publications Court on charges pertaining to Article 23 of Law 104/77,” the National News Agency said.

“The referral is linked to Haddad's mentioning of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Lahonwbas show,” NNA added.

LBCI television, the channel that airs Haddad's show, said the lawsuit is also linked to satirical remarks about Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel voiced solidarity with Haddad via Twitter.

“We have lost count of the number of lawsuits they have filed against journalists. Even the shows that bring laughter into our homes have become under scrutiny,” Gemayel lamented, referring to the ruling class.

Arab Tawhid Party leader and ex-minister Wiam Wahhab said he “advises” the state prosecutor not to sue Haddad “if he cannot sue those who insult Syria and the rest of the brotherly countries.”

“The law should be implemented on everyone, or else selectivity is prohibited,” Wahhab added in a tweet.

In the episode that caused him trouble with authorities, Haddad comments on a “prediction” by Lebanon's famous fortune teller Michel Hayek that MBS will be told by doctors to reduce his consumption of fast food.

“Amidst everything that is happening in the region, you are advising him to stop eating hamburgers! I advise him to stop 'fast arrests', 'fast policies', 'fast campaigns' and 'fast military strikes',” Haddad says sarcastically.

“I don't care if he gets fat or not! I have nothing to do with the crown prince's cholesterol! What do I have to do with the prince's triglyceride?” Haddad adds.