BEIRUT: A Lebanese journalism student detained for criticizing the state, president and symbols of the country in a Facebook post was released on bail Monday but his case continues. Investigative Judge Pierre Francis ordered the release of Bassel al-Amin on a bond of LL500,000 ($333), the state-run National News Agency reported Monday evening.
The case was referred to the Baabda penal investigating magistrate who will declare the charges against Amin at a yet to be set hearing.
However, Amin will not remain in custody during the hearing process and won’t return to prison unless found guilty and given a longer jail sentence than already served.
During investigations led by Francis, Amin apologized for his comments, expressed regret and said that he had been misunderstood, a security source told The Daily Star.
During an investigative hearing, Judge Francis told the student that he was still a young and reckless boy and asked him his political leanings, the source said. Amin then replied that, “I am against the right-wing, but I am a journalist.”
Amin was arrested a week ago after writing – and later deleting a Facebook post criticizing Lebanon that was deemed slander by Public Prosecutor Randa Yakzan.
The post in question was reportedly made after Amin saw a television segment he found insulting to Syrian refugees.
He posted a status on Facebook saying “The shoes of a Syrian refugee, worker and national are worth more than your republic, Cedars, your Lebanon, your right wing, independence, government, history, revolution and presidents. What did we understand?”
The student was then detained after being asked to report to the Internal Security Force’s Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau.
Dozens of journalists, friends and rights activists criticized his detention claiming that he has a right to free speech.
The Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau is a branch of the ISF that deals with online security, cases of online defamation, libel and slander.
Suspects will then be tried in a criminal court.
The case was referred to the Baabda penal investigating magistrate who will declare the charges against Amin at a yet to be set hearing.
However, Amin will not remain in custody during the hearing process and won’t return to prison unless found guilty and given a longer jail sentence than already served.
During investigations led by Francis, Amin apologized for his comments, expressed regret and said that he had been misunderstood, a security source told The Daily Star.
During an investigative hearing, Judge Francis told the student that he was still a young and reckless boy and asked him his political leanings, the source said. Amin then replied that, “I am against the right-wing, but I am a journalist.”
Amin was arrested a week ago after writing – and later deleting a Facebook post criticizing Lebanon that was deemed slander by Public Prosecutor Randa Yakzan.
The post in question was reportedly made after Amin saw a television segment he found insulting to Syrian refugees.
He posted a status on Facebook saying “The shoes of a Syrian refugee, worker and national are worth more than your republic, Cedars, your Lebanon, your right wing, independence, government, history, revolution and presidents. What did we understand?”
The student was then detained after being asked to report to the Internal Security Force’s Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau.
Dozens of journalists, friends and rights activists criticized his detention claiming that he has a right to free speech.
The Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau is a branch of the ISF that deals with online security, cases of online defamation, libel and slander.
Suspects will then be tried in a criminal court.
Source & Link : The Daily Star
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