REPORT: Who protects the journalists' rights?

A number of journalists were prohibited from entering their Syndicate's meeting, when they came to UNESCO palace to call for their right in adhering to a syndicate which protects them.                  

The scene soon changed, as 15 minutes before holding the meeting of the "Journalists without union" campaign, the UNESCO palace closed its doors in front of the journalists following a decision issued by the Education Ministry refusing to receive the campaign's movement.                 

Consequently, MP Ghassan Mkheiber spoke to the general director of the Education Ministry Faysal Taleb, who was later revealed to be the one behind the decision to prevent the journalists from entering the meeting's location. Taleb reversed his decision later on; however, it was too late, as the journalists stayed outside the building and staged their protest.

For his part, head of the Editors Syndicate Elias Aoun stressed that journalists have been able to join the union since the first of last July, adding that whoever wants to join the union and has the requirements is welcomed.                           

Aoun told LBCI that the delay in accepting the applications is due to incomplete applications presented by applicants because of the closure of universities during the summer.

In this context, the President of the Press Syndicate Mohammad Baalbaki issued a statement where he called on the committee of the press union to hold a meeting on Tuesday 23 October at 11:00, in order to study the pending applications.


For full LBCI report, please click on the video above