Lebanon: Journalist released after arrest over defamation complaint regarding social media post

A journalist in Lebanon has reportedly been released after being arrested following a defamation complaint over a social media post.

Mariam Majdoline Lahham remains under investigation following a decision by Judge Ghassan Khoury, The New Arab's Lebanon-focused sister site Al-Modon reported on Wednesday.

Khoury referred the case to the central anti-drugs bureau, which activists say happened because a cannabis cigarette was allegedly found at her home.

Lahham was called to the central investigations department after a complaint was made by Mohammed Ahmed Assaf, the top judge on the Supreme Sunni Sharia Court.

The journalist said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that she was summoned after Assaf made allegations against her of defamation and inciting members of the Sunni Muslim community against him.

She said this was over her claim, also posted to X, that Assaf had a conflict of interest while overseeing a court case.

The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that after investigations she was told to delete a post in order to be released. She refused and was reportedly held further but later released. It was not clear which post she was allegedly told to remove.

The Alternative Press Syndicate said that, without her lawyer present, investigators searched Lahham's home, seized her computer and accessed her Facebook account, deleting a post.

News of Lahham's arrest and subsequent release comes after one of Lebanon's best-loved comedians, Nour Hajjar, was recently detained for a joke about hard-up Lebanese soldiers being forced to work as delivery drivers.

Hajjar, known for his satirical humour, was detained in Lebanon on 25 August following complaints of "inciting strife", "attacking religious rites", and "disturbing peace among the elements of the nation".

It relates to a joke he made on stage and recently screened on the awk.word comedy platform and another made about five years ago - but only recently complained about- regarding his mother and Muslim funeral practices.

In one 35-second clip, Hajjar said that due to the economic crisis, Lebanese soldiers have had to work as delivery drivers to supplement their meager army incomes - so any invasion by Israel would have to be repelled with condiments.

"Have you noticed that all [delivery drivers] are in the army? Can you imagine if Israel strikes us and the whole army is at Toters?" he quipped, referring to a food delivery service.

"We'll see 30 mopeds arrive at the border. One rocket, and we'll be splashing Israel with honey-mustard sauce."

Although Hajjar said he was willing to apologise to anyone offended by the joke, the comedian was detained before being released following an outcry from local and international rights groups.

Hajjar's lawyer has said the comedian was illegally detained.