Lebanese President stresses media's role in highlighting Israeli occupation forces' aggression
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed the importance of the media's role in highlighting occupation aggression, emphasizing the need to enact the new media law and ensure media freedom without misinformation.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Beirut, October 12 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed on Monday the importance of the role played by Lebanese media in highlighting the continuous attacks by Israeli occupation forces on Lebanon and documenting violations that contradict international laws and covenants. This came in a statement following President Aoun’s meeting with Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Elsie Mfarrej, President of the Lebanese Journalists Union, to review the activities of the federation, which represents approximately 600,000 journalists across 140 countries worldwide.
Aoun stressed the importance of enacting the new media law in the country after years of waiting, emphasizing that freedom of the media in Lebanon is “protected under the Constitution and existing laws.” He called for freedom of the media, guaranteed by law, not to be exploited for “misinformation or blackmail,” noting that the laws governing the media sector apply equally to all professionals in the field.
For his part, Bellanger expressed the full solidarity of the International Federation of Journalists with Lebanese journalists, condemning violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists while they were carrying out their duties in the south, which he described as a blatant breach of international laws defending human rights and protecting journalists. He welcomed the step of enacting the new media law, praising the “extraordinary” efforts and sacrifices made by Lebanese journalists in conveying the truth and broadcasting field coverage.
It is worth noting that the Lebanese Parliament recently approved a new media law, representing the first comprehensive update of regulations governing the sector in decades, replacing the old laws issued in 1962 and 1994. The new law brings digital electronic media under the umbrella of the official legal framework and establishes an “independent national media authority” responsible for regulating the sector, enforcing transparency rules, and protecting journalistic source confidentiality. (End) F.Z. / N.S.A.
