Rights group urges Lebanon to ensure draft media law allows for freedom of expression

Amnesty International on Tuesday said that Lebanon’s parliament must ensure that its new draft media law which is currently being considered must allow for the freedom of expression.

Both Lebanese and international organisations joined in the calls for the parliament to ensure laws do not result in the targeting and silencing of critics, activists or journalists.

The parliament’s Administration and Justice Committee resumed its discussion on the draft law on Tuesday, with Amnesty International urging them to decriminalise defamation, blasphemy and the insulting of public officials.

The rights group also called on them to end prohibiting pre-trial detention for speech-related violations, and removing restrictions on establishment of media outlets.

According to Amnesty International, Lebanon must now strive to ensure that media laws are consistent with international human rights standards and allow for the freedom of expression.

Lebanon first started discussing a new media law in 2010, following proposals to amend the country’s outdated Publications Law. In January 2023, the parliament formed a subcommittee to examine and amend the draft media law, with a final version of it submitted to the Administration and Justice Committee on 27 May 2025.

Despite the new draft law submitted earlier this year containing significant developments in protecting the right to free expression and ending pre-trial detention and prison sentences for speech-related violations, there have still been some concerns on other terms of the law.

Amnesty International called on the Administration and Justice Committee, which is involved in holding discussions on the law, to make its talks public. This came after a review of the proposed amendments appeared to show the reintroduction of pre-trial detention under aggravated circumstances, such as infringing on individuals’ dignity or private lives.

Such a move would be a major step back, rights groups have said, and would limit free speech in the country.

Amnesty International further noted that such an amendment is vague, and therefore leaves people unaware of what constitutes violating laws. They said it could also cause people to self-censor and could result in abuse from authorities as well as limit work from the media.