Dar Al-Hiwar stands with MTV, affirms free speech over intimidation
Bechara Khairallah, founder of Dar Al-Hiwar, issued a statement on his own behalf, on behalf of a group of fellow journalists, and in the name of Dar Al-Hiwar, condemning “the systematic campaign targeting MTV and its website through threats, incitement, and continuous attacks, a clear attempt to silence a free and independent media voice and undermine a platform that has long expressed free opinion and truth in the face of all attempts at intimidation and domination.”
He stated: “We convened today to openly declare our complete rejection of any attack on a media outlet, regardless of its form, as it constitutes a direct assault on press freedom, the Lebanese people’s right to information, and the very essence of Lebanon’s democratic system. Free media is not anyone’s adversary; it is a mirror of truth, and targeting it is an attack on Lebanon, its message, freedom, and pluralism.” He added that “any attempt to harm MTV, its website, or its staff, whether through political pressure, organized incitement, or repeated cyberattacks, represents aggressive behavior that is unacceptable and condemnable, revealing a repressive mindset that recognizes only the elimination of others and the suppression of differing opinions.”
Khairallah affirmed: “We stand in full solidarity with the station’s management, its media team, and every journalist facing campaigns of defamation and threats simply for performing their professional and national duty.” He called on “official, judicial, and security authorities to fully assume their responsibilities, put an end to these repeated attacks, and hold accountable anyone who incites, threatens, or participates in targeting media institutions.” He stressed that “press freedom is a red line, and any violation of it is a violation of Lebanon itself and the essence of its existence.”
He concluded: “The free word will remain stronger than intimidation, louder than the noise, and more enduring than all attempts at oppression. As children of life, we seek to live in peace, whether some accept it or reject it.”
