Kuwaiti Journalist Faces Entry Ban in Lebanon: Here’s What You Need to Know

This news has been read 12500 times!

KUWAIT CITY, June 11: The ban imposed on the Kuwaiti journalist and writer Fajer Al-Saeed from entering Lebanese territory has sparked condemning reactions from various political and parliamentary circles and personalities, reports Al-Anba daily.

Immediately after the arrival of the journalist Fajer Al-Saeed on Thursday at the Rafiq Hariri International Airport, she was denied entry. She remained at the airport in the custody of the general security until she was sent back to Kuwait by plane. The Lebanese official authorities claim they relied on Lebanese laws for carrying out the ban.

During this time, Al-Saeed deliberately posted a series of messages on her Twitter account. In one of them she wrote, “I am waiting for any plane to take me back to my country. The group turned out to be sensitive”, referring to the reported reason for preventing her from entering Lebanon being the presence of an Israeli stamp on her passport.

She explained, “There is no Israeli stamp in my passport. The reason is the story of Hassan Nasrallah and my words about him. For your information, I went to Palestine twice at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.”

Reacting to this incident, Head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea said in a statement, “Preventing the Kuwaiti journalist, writer, and producer Fajer Al-Saeed from entering Lebanon using police force and without any legal justification comes as a blow to all that Lebanon represents in terms of civilized, cultural, and media values on one hand, and represents a complete disregard for Lebanon’s relations with other Arab countries on the other. In fact it constitutes a blow to the entire concept of freedoms.

Kuwait has always been a good helper, supporter and friend of Lebanon from the time of independence until this moment at various levels, foremost of which are the development projects that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has accomplished at least in the last ten years, which in some areas exceed what the Lebanese state has accomplished by itself. As well, Kuwait has always stood by Lebanon without hesitation in Arab and international forums. So is this how we reward our friends?

It seems that the reason for preventing the free journalist Fajer Al-Saeed from entering Lebanon lies in its clear and transparent stances towards the axis of opposition. The question posed is – Has Lebanon turned into a second North Korea?”

What is required of the prime minister and the interior minister is to conduct an immediate investigation into this case, determine responsibilities and impose the most severe penalties against those who were behind this decision… or else, welcome to all of you in the Republic of North Korea.”

On his Twitter account, Head of the Kataeb Party Sami Amine Gemayel posted – “Have the current Lebanese authorities turned into a repressive tool in service of a party that is outside the Lebanese constitution and laws at the expense of freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution and at the expense of Lebanon’s relationship with the Arab countries?”

The Media Committee of the Progressive Socialist Party issued a statement in which it said, “It is very surprising that the Kuwaiti journalist Fajer Al-Saeed was prevented from entering Lebanon, arrested and interrogated solely on the basis of her political positions and opinions.

This condemned pattern of restrictions constitutes a blow to the idea of Lebanon’s existence, which is based on freedoms and diversity, and on respect for the Lebanese press and journalists – both Lebanese and foreigners. The concerned authorities and agencies must clarify what happened, address the matter, and prevent its recurrence.”

President of the Lebanese Press Editors Union Joseph Al-Qusaifi issued a statement in which he said, “The union has taken note of the ban on the Kuwaiti journalist from entering Lebanon and will contact officials to clarify the reasons for this ban.”

He affirmed the union’s firm position against obstructing any journalist or media person for reasons related to his professional performance, irrespective of whether he is Lebanese, a resident of Lebanon, or a foreigner.

The Lebanese MP Ashraf Rifi posted on Twitter that Al-Saeed’s ban “represents the height of underestimation of Lebanon’s image and position. It also constitutes an attack on an Arab citizen who belongs to Kuwait, which is friendly to Lebanon. We will not accept that Lebanon be a protectorate for the opposition. Terrorism, killing and Captagon are enough for us. Lebanon was and will remain the country of freedoms.”

Head of the Tawheed Party and former minister Wiam Wahhab posted on his Twitter account, “We do not know the reason behind the bullying incident at the airport, either in terms of what happened with the Kuwaiti media or what happens daily with Libyan citizens.”

Addressing the prime minister, he said, “Your Excellency the Prime Minister Mikati, deal with this bullying.”

Commenting on Al-Saeed’s ban on entry, the Information Affairs Office of the General Department of Public Security issued a statement, stating that Al-Saeed applied to obtain an entry visa to Lebanon but after checking her documents, it became clear that the directorate has the right to prevent her from entering.”

An official Lebanese source said, “There are legal measures that Al-Saeed can adopt, either directly or through a legal representative, to lift the ban.”

This news has been read 12500 times!