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Lebanon once prided itself on being a beacon of freedom of expression in the region. But recently, journalists and activists have been facing increasing verbal and physical threats, in some cases amounting to death threats, from supporters of the country’s major political parties.
The recent assassination of publisher and activist Lokman Slim on 4 February in southern Lebanon is the latest episode. Though the killer is still unknown, some allege that the powerful Lebanese Shiite party, Hezbollah, is behind Slim’s death. Slim has openly opposed the party, and its supporters have made death threats against him in the past.
Lebanon s journalists face Hezbollah threat
The murder of publisher and activist Lokman Slim is a stark warning to media in the country
24 Feb 2021
Hezbollah fighters at a ceremony. Photo: Al Khamenei/CC BY 4.0
On 4 February, the Lebanese activist, political commentator and publisher Lokman Slim was shot dead in his car.
Before his murder, Slim already suspected that his days were numbered and told family members that should anything happen to him, the Shia militant group Hezbollah – of which he had been an outspoken critic – would likely be behind it.
“For the first time in years, after verbal and many physical attacks on people who oppose the politics of Hezbollah, a well-known personality [Slim] was assassinated in their areas with many leads that allow many to boldly question their involvement in his murder,” said Lebanese journalist Luna Safwan.