{"id":206008,"date":"2025-04-02T10:58:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scm.bz\/?p=206008"},"modified":"2025-04-02T10:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:58:21","slug":"in-solidarity-with-daraj-and-megaphone-amid-a-coordinated-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scm.bz\/en\/in-solidarity-with-daraj-and-megaphone-amid-a-coordinated-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"In Solidarity with Daraj and Megaphone Amid A Coordinated Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Solidarity with Daraj and Megaphone Amid A Coordinated Campaign<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In light of the coordinated campaign targeting Lebanese independent media outlets Daraj and Megaphone, we, the undersigned group of civil society and media organizations from Lebanon and around the world, come together to stand in solidarity against attempts to silence these leading voices. We call on the relevant Lebanese authorities to take clear steps in the face of these defamatory and alarming actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, Daraj and Megaphone learned via an article published by Lebanese television channel MTV that a new legal complaint<\/a> was allegedly being brought against them before the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office, a complaint that both Daraj and Megaphone have yet to be officially notified of or served with. The independent media organizations are reportedly accused of (1) undermining the financial standing of the state, (2) destabilizing confidence in the strength of the national currency and state bonds, (3) inciting depositors to withdraw their funds and sell bonds, and (4) receiving suspicious foreign funds with the aim of launching media campaigns that would shake confidence in Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This most recent targeting of Daraj and Megaphone comes alongside a defamatory campaign against both independent media organizations from media outlets, websites, and figures who are linked to Lebanese banker Antoun Sehnaoui<\/a>. This campaign follows recent similar campaigns<\/a> targeting Lebanese economists who have put forth recommendations which would threaten the banking lobby\u2019s interests<\/a> and hold them to account. Since February, a similar media defamation campaign<\/a> linked to Sehnaoui\u2019s affiliated-organizations has also targeted Lebanese advocacy group Kulluna Irada following their demands for accountability in relation to the theft of peoples\u2019 funds following Lebanon\u2019s 2019 financial crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Lebanon\u2019s financial crisis in 2019, Daraj and Megaphone have been producing news and reports investigating financial mismanagement, corruption, and money laundering, including critical investigations which resulted in multi-country accountability efforts targeting<\/a> former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh<\/a>. Prior to this coordinated campaign, attempts were previously made to silence both Daraj and Megaphone through prior lawsuits<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lebanon is at a critical moment. The new Lebanese government is actively<\/a> engaging<\/a> with the IMF and the World Bank in support of the country\u2019s reconstruction and economic recovery and the country is preparing to elect<\/a> a new Central Bank Governor. Rather than working toward the financial and economic reform that the country and its people desperately need, the Association of Banks in Lebanon is working to ensure their preferred candidate is elected<\/a> and that restructuring plans<\/a> are adopted to shift the burden of repaying depositors away from the banks and onto the government itself. In support of this, they are instrumentalizing Daraj and Megaphone\u2019s reporting in a campaign to silence them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the undersigned, call on the relevant Lebanese authorities, specifically, the public prosecutors and judicial authorities, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Justice and of Information, and the President, to protect independent media outlets and support the country\u2019s economic recovery by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n