The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
Acharq al-Awsat Daily reported that the satirical TV program “Basmat Watan” caused an outrage on social media websites and on the ground in several Lebanese regions where citizens blocked the roads to protest against the show’s criticism targeting Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
In this context, LBCI's Chairperson and CEO Sheikh Pierre al-Daher stressed that LBCI is a professional visual media outlet that has the right to criticize any person, especially public and political figures, noting that “no one is infallible but God.”
In a statement to the newspaper, al-Daher said that the said show had previously mimicked religious figures such as the Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros Rai and the Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani without receiving such response, pointing out that they have become used to this kind of reactions, which is considered as a democratic expression from the other party.
However, he said that LBCI adopts a purely subjective censorship, stressing that their decisions cannot be affected any anyone or anything.
“Why do the Lebanese people support the Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef and do not support other Lebanese citizens?” he asked.
For his part, the writer and director of “Basmat Watan” Charbel Khalil told the daily that he is under the protection of the Lebanese Constitution that grants him the right to the freedom of expression, stressing that whoever has an objection can resort to the law.
MP Mohammad Kabbara stressed that the northern city of Tripoli needs tight security measures in order to put an end to the current chaos, noting that the Lebanese government is not dealing seriously with the case of the twin blasts that targeted two of the city’s mosques back in August.
In a statement to
al-Hayat Newspaper, Kabbara revealed that the Bab al-Tebbaneh political figures have concerns over the security measures.
“We will not allow the armed groups, backed by the Syrian regime, to hold Bab al-Tebbaneh hostage and turn it into a platform to send messages in several directions,” he said.
The Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri praised the importance of the visit expected to be made by the President Michel Sleiman to Saudi Arabia, noting that it will offer an occasion to reiterate support for the Baabda Declaration that stipulates Lebanon’s dissociation from regional crises.
Assiri told
Acharq al-Awsat Daily that the parties launching campaigns against Saudi Arabia are losing their credibility among the Lebanese people, stressing the Kingdom’s keenness on preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The ambassador pointed out that, during the visit, President Sleiman will hold talks with the Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz where they will discuss the bilateral relations between both countries, as well as other issues of great importance related to the regional situation.
“Sleiman has launched national and patriotic positions appreciated by all the Lebanese people, he protects the Lebanese Constitution and heads dialogue sessions between Lebanese factions in order to reach agreement over several local issues,” Assiri added.