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Marcel Ghanem Rejects ‘Silencing of Voices’ in Lebanon

Lebanese Media Figure Marcel Ghanem. Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Media Figure Marcel Ghanem. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Marcel Ghanem Rejects ‘Silencing of Voices’ in Lebanon

Lebanese Media Figure Marcel Ghanem. Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Media Figure Marcel Ghanem. Asharq Al-Awsat

The summoning of Lebanese media figure Marcel Ghanem to investigate the hosting of two Saudi journalists, Ibrahim al-Merhi and Adhwan Alahmari, in last week’s episode of his program “Kalam Al-Nas” has drawn more reactions.
 
Warnings rose on Friday against harming the media and entrapping it in political bickering, as well as exploiting the crisis to “silence voices”.
 
After accusing on Thursday Justice Minister Salim Jreissati of bias, Ghanem reiterated in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat that he refused to submit to the investigation, adhering to the rights of journalists and media workers and warning against using his program in the current political crisis.
 
“It was demanded that I would be brought and requested to pledge in signing that I would not attack the President of the Republic; I never did and won’t do,” Ghanem said at the beginning of his political show on Thursday.
 
Addressing Jreissati, Ghanem asked: “Have you taken any action in the Free Zone case, of which you were the main hero? In the case of Casino du Liban? And in the most important file: the events of Arsal, when we saw members of ISIS leaving in armored buses in a scandal deal? What did you do to bring the murderers of Rafik Hariri to justice?”
 
In a statement on Friday, Jreissati said: “The time of media’s disgrace, which is devoid of any moral or professional controls, has passed.”
 
Ghanem responded, in comments to Asharq Al-Awsat: “The words of the Minister of Justice are returned to him. He is trying to infuse the media into his political calculations, exploit the political situation by shutting the mouths and intimidating the media.”
 
“We will not accept such attempts,” he added.
 
The case sparked a wave of support for Ghanem from the majority of Lebanese politicians.
 
Information Minister Melhem Riachi said: “Insulting national symbols is not permissible in any circumstance, especially through the media, but in the event the media fell in any inadvertent error, there is a mechanism for all of us to abide by, through the Ministry of Information and the National Information Council.”
 
“I appreciate the position of the Minister of Information who, in a phone call with me, confirmed his support (against fascism in dealing with the media),” Ghanem said.
 
For his part, Minister of Education Marwan Hamadeh expressed his solidarity with Ghanem “in the context of the battle of freedoms” and warned in a statement against any violation of media freedom.
 
MP and former Minister Boutros Harb underlined his commitment to defend freedoms and volunteering as a lawyer to defend Ghanem in any prosecution against him.
 
“Hosting guests in a program on air does not place any responsibility on the host in the event of a guest violated the law,” Harb said.

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Arab World

Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
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Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD

Eid al-Fitr in Syria was charged with newfound joy this year, as thousands freely celebrated the holiday for the first time after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

From the early morning hours, crowds of men, women and children flocked to pray at Damascus's historic Umayyad Mosque in the Old City.

"This is the first time we truly feel the joy of Eid, after getting rid of Assad's tyrannical regime," Fatima Othman told AFP.

Following prayer, worshippers exchanged Eid greetings while street vendors sold colorful balloons and toys to children posing for photos with their parents.

"Our celebration is doubled after Assad's fall," said Ghassan Youssef, a resident of the capital.

A few kilometers (miles) away, on the slopes of Mount Qasyun overlooking Damascus -- a site previously off-limits to Syrians until Assad was deposed on December 8 -- a few thousand people gathered at Unknown Soldier Square for an open-air prayer.

Among them were members of the security forces and the army, dressed in uniform and armed. The road leading to the square was packed, according to an AFP photographer.

Some worshippers distributed sweets to celebrate, while the three-star Syrian flag, adopted by the new authorities, waved in the air.

Under the previous government, access to the Unknown Soldier monument was typically restricted to Assad and his close associates, who would lay wreaths there during national ceremonies.

'Celebration of celebrations!'
The memorial, where a giant screen broadcast the Eid prayer, is near the presidential palace.

There, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa prayed alongside Syria's new mufti Osama al-Rifai and several cabinet ministers in the presence of a large crowd.

He later delivered a speech emphasizing the country faced "a long and arduous road to reconstruction but possesses all the resources needed to recover".

This came two days after the formation of a new government, which faces daunting challenges in a country devastated by 14 years of civil war.

Wael Hamamiya, who had been in Sweden since the early days of the conflict, returned to Damascus to celebrate Eid with his family.

"This is my first Eid here in nearly 15 years. I truly feel the celebration in its full meaning," he told AFP, beaming.

"Everyone who has come is over the moon. This is the celebration of celebrations!"

The occasion was more somber for some Syrians, who were able to visit the graves of loved ones that had been off-limits during Assad reign, especially in former opposition strongholds.

At al-Rawda Cafe in Damascus, 36-year-old Amer Hallaq chatted with friends after returning from exile in Berlin where he ended up after dodging compulsory military service in 2014.

"For years, I thought I'd never see my family again or celebrate Eid with them," Hallaq said.

"The joy of liberation and victory is immense, but there's still a lot of work ahead. This is only the beginning of the road."