Houry calls for summoning Ambassador Ali, Ghanem receives threatening letters

The telecommunications parliamentary committee headed by MP Hassan Fadlallah called for the protection of journalists and their freedom, highlighting the need to investigate in the death of Al-Jadeed cameraman Ali Shaaban.

Fadlallah said that the incident is now in the hands of justice, adding that evidence needs to be provided by official authorities.

Lebanon First bloc MP Omar Houry urged the government to summon Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali and address a strongly worded complaint over the incident. Houry also held Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sahnawi full responsibility for blocking the telecom data, adding that such data could help reveal those behind the assassination attempt against the Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea and MP Sami Gemayel.

“Law 140 speaks of wiretapping and all we are requesting is [to reveal] telecommunications traffic”, Houry said.

Furthermore, the Head of the Administration and Justice parliamentary committee MP Robert Ghanem said that he received a threat on the backdrop of the draft law for rents, displaying the threatening letter. Ghanem stressed that the draft will move forward in spite of the “shameful” threats.