Online activists are under interrogations by Lebanese authorities over social media posts

Ten online journalists and advocates were questioned by Lebanese security agencies over Facebook and Twitter posts that reportedly included advocacy for online activism, sarcastic comments about religious figures, and the criticism of politicians. Some of them were forced to sign pledges to refrain from publishing ‘slanderous’ content, and some, to deactivate their social media accounts or else cease posting on them for a specific time. According to the Lebanese Penal Code [in Arabic], defamation of the president and public figures is a crime punishable by imprisonment.