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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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Egypt Concerned Over Developments in Iran

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
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Egypt Concerned Over Developments in Iran

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi meet in Istanbul last Saturday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry) 

Egypt on Sunday expressed its “deep concern” over the latest developments in Iran following the US attacks on the country’s nuclear sites. It condemned the growing escalation, warning of its serious consequences on regional and international peace and security.

Although the foreign ministry’s statement did not directly refer to the US, an Egyptian diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We do not need to explain what is well-known. The Foreign Ministry statement condemned escalation following the US bombing. Everyone knows that Egypt meant the actions of Washington and not others.”
In the statement, Egypt reaffirmed its rejection of any violations of the UN Charter and international law, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty of states.
It also warned anew against the dangers should the region slide into further chaos and tension.
The statement emphasized that political solutions and diplomatic negotiations, not military action, are the only path to resolving the crisis and achieving a lasting settlement.
Egypt then renewed its call for de-escalation, self-restraint and dialogue, in order to protect civilian lives and preserve the security and stability of the region.

The statement came after the United States attacked early on Sunday Iran's three nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. According to observers, the current escalation between Washington and Tehran is among the most dangerous in years.

Dr. Amr Al-Shobaki, an expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Egypt has a strong strategic alliance with the US.

However, tension lately arose after US President Donald Trump insisted that Egypt should accept displaced Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

In its FM statement condemning the attack on Iran, “Egypt did not want to clearly refer to the US,” Al-Shobaki told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Egypt’s statement spoke in general when it warned of the serious consequences on regional and international peace and security.

“Cairo expressed its concern about the strike, but did not directly mention the US. It wanted to prevent an open confrontation and further tension in relations between both countries,” Al-Shobaki added.

On Saturday night, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi expressed Egypt's complete rejection of the ongoing Israeli escalation against Iran, unlike the FM statement released following the US strikes and which did not mention Washington.

Meanwhile, Egypt continues to exert efforts to deescalate tensions in the region.

In this regard, Sisi on Sunday spoke by phone with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. Sisi emphasized the need to halt the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran, warning of the grave consequences of the expanding conflict in the region.

Sisi also praised the role played by the Sultanate in mediating between Iran and the United States, stressing the need to restore and strengthen the negotiating process to spare the region the scourge of war.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made two separate phone calls with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the need to avoid further chaos and tension in the region.

The ministers emphasized the importance of halting military escalation and achieving a ceasefire, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

“They called for prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions as the only viable path out of the current crisis,” it added.

They also underscored the need to respect the sovereignty of states, uphold international law and adhere to the United Nations Charter.