Musician arrested for song calling for President to “go home”

Lebanese authorities on Wednesday detained local musician Zeid Hamdan for allegedly defaming President Michel Suleiman, according to people familiar with the case.

In 2010, Hamdan and his band, Zeid and the Wings, wrote a song called “General Sleiman” that called on the president, who led the army before his 2008 election, to “go home.” (more…)

Will Syria become more democratic?

By David Ignatius
The rise and fall of a protest demonstration here recently shows that Syrians share the yearning for dignity that’s sweeping the Arab world – and also illustrates why President Bashar al-Assad so far hasn’t been threatened by this tide of anger.

Syria’s brutal internet censorship key in preventing protests

By Weedah Hamzah and Aya Batrawy
While much of the Arab world continues to see thousands of people taking to the streets with calls for political change, a ‘Day of Rage’ planned in Syria this month drew only a few dozen protesters.

Shouman released from jail on bail

Military Investigative Judge Ghassan Owaidat released on a LL 100,000($66)   bail Ahmed Shouman who was arrested for slandering the president.

Shouman was was arrested at the Beirut airport Tuesday upon his return from Kiev on charges of libel, slander and defamation against Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on social networking website Facebook.

Following his arrest he was taken to Roumieh prison for interrogation. (more…)

Another youth arrested over slander of Lebanon President

Lebanese citizen Ahmed Shouman was was arrested at the Beirut airport Tuesday upon his return from Kiev on charges of libel, slander and defamation against President Suleiman on social networking website Facebook

The suspect was then taken to Roumieh prison for interrogation. (more…)

Analysis: When CNN and BBC wet their pants on ‘truths’

NEUTRALITY is a contentious issue in journalism, but honesty is the real measure.

Octavia Nasr’s firing and what U.S. liberal media allows

CNN yesterday ended the 20-year career of its Senior Middle East News Editor, Lebanese-American Octavia Nasr, because of a tweet she wrote

Syria jails a 79 year old activist for 3 years

A Syrian military court today sentenced a 79-year-old lawyer and human rights activist, who campaigned for decades for an end to emergency law, to three years in prison on charges of “weakening national morale”, defence lawyers said.

“This is tragic. Haitham Maleh is an old and ill man,” one lawyer said, while another feared that he would not survive the whole sentence. (more…)

3 men arrested for slandering Suleiman freed on bail

The three Lebanese men that were arrested for slandering President Michel Suleiman on the social networking website Facebook were released on bail on Friday.

Military Investigative Judge Ghassan Owaidat released Naim Hanna, 27, Antoine Ramia, 29, and Shebel Qasab, 27 on a LL100,000 bail each ($66). (more…)

Freedom and Hypocracy

By Ghassan Karam
I have to ask the readers of this space to be patient with this post. It appears that very few people have had access to the “offending” short article that has created the ire of president Suleiman.