Lebanon: NGOs call for the release of an American journalist

Human rights organizations on Wednesday (December 8th) called on the Lebanese authorities to release an American journalist "

"

detained

for unspecified reasons and condemned repeated attacks on press freedom.

Nada Homsi, who currently works as a freelance writer for the American radio station NPR, was arrested on November 16 by the Lebanese General Security following a search of her apartment which took place without a judicial warrant, explained Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a joint statement.

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The General Security, the country's largest security body, refused to grant the journalist a hearing with a lawyer and ordered her deportation, although the attorney general requested her release on November 25, according to the two organizations.

"

" Aya said. Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at HRW.

Recurring attacks on the press

The reasons for the search of Nada Homsi's apartment and for his continued detention remain unclear. The journalist's lawyer, Diala Chehade, said a small amount of cannabis was found in Nada Homsi's apartment during the search, the statement said. The journalist is being held for "

" which were not specified by the General Security, added Me Chehade, according to the press release. Nada Homsi has been charged with drug use, a violation that does not necessarily result in jail if the accused agrees to receive treatment, Amnesty and HRW said.

Journalists working in Lebanon are increasingly under attack by authorities who have used the country's courts and security agencies to silence and punish critics, according to human rights groups.

On November 26, the military court sentenced Radwan Mortada, journalist for the Arabic-language daily Al-Akhbar, to 13 months in prison for allegedly insulting the army.