Mohamad Sablouh

ALERT 02/09/2024

ALERT 24/04/2024

 

LEBANON: Mohamad Sablouh faces further intimidation

 

2 September 2024

Mohamad Sablouh was banned from entering Beirut’s military court for three months after criticising a judicial decision he considered unfair on Facebook. He has appealed against this ban to the Military Court of Cassation.

Mr Sablouh was representing a client before Beirut’s military court on 12 August 2024. Later that day, he expressed his dissatisfaction on Facebook with a court decision, criticising a 12-year prison sentence handed down to a gang member, while the leader of the same gang had received only 4 years. He also called for the abolition of the military justice system.

While attending another hearing two days later, the President of the Beirut Military Court issued a three-month ban on his access to the court in response to his message on social networks.

This ban was applied on 14 August, but he was not officially notified until 19 August 2024. Sablouh has appealed against this decision to the Court of Cassation of the Military Court through his fellow lawyers.

The Observatory urges the Lebanese authorities to stop harassing Mr Mohamad Sablouh.

The Observatory calls on the Beirut Military Court to fully respect fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and to guarantee that lawyers can exercise their profession without fear of reprisals.

The Observatory remains vigilant regarding the situation of lawyers in Lebanon.

The Observatory recalls that according to article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ” 1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference. ; 2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.“.

The Observatory reaffirms the United Nations basic principles on the role of the Bar, in particular principles 16 and 23:

“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (…)” (Principle 16)

“Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization“. (Principle 23)

 

 

LEBANON: lawyer Mohamad Sablouh faces threats and intimidation

26 April 2024

 

Mohamad Sablouh is a Lebanese lawyer who specialises in the defence of human rights. He has been involved in denouncing the unlawful deportation of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to Syria. Through his social networks, he has highlighted violations of Lebanese law and the Convention against Torture. The lawyer is facing increasing harassment because of his legal assistance to Syrian refugees.

Mr Sablouh works for the rights of Syrian refugees by documenting human rights violations committed against them. Since speaking out on social networks, he has faced several acts of intimidation.

In February 2024, his car was broken into twice near his home in Qubba (northern Lebanon).

Later that month, Mr Sablouh discussed the illegal expulsion of Syrians with the Head of National Security, Khattar Nasreddine, and the President of the Tripoli Bar Association, Sami Al Hassan. A helpline has since been set up to deal with these situations.

After the meeting, Mr Sablouh was notified of the existence of a serious case against him, which would be officially declared in the next few days. This case might be linked to the accusations made by the former Director of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim, who accused Mr Sablouh of having links with Zionism in 2021.

Mr Sablouh also met with the Director of General Security, Major General Elias Al-Bisari, to discuss violations of the Lebanese Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the deportation of Syrian refugees.

However, since his meeting in February 2024, Mohamad Sablouh has been receiving messages on WhatsApp from unknown senders, some of them requesting money. In April 2024, the lawyer filed a complaint against these anonymous senders, but to no avail so far.

 

The Observatory urges the Lebanese authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the free exercise of the legal profession by Mohamad Sablouh.

The Observatory recalls that according to article 9, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”

The Observatory reiterates the United Nations’ basic principles on the role of the Bar, in particular principle 17, which states that: “Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.”