Lebanese authorities and powerful individuals, including political, judicial, religious and security figures, are weaponizing the criminal insult, slander and libel laws to harass, intimidate and silence people who criticize them or try to expose their misconduct or alleged corruption. These problematic provisions in the Penal Code, Publications Law, and the Military Code of Justice, which carry sentences of up to three years in prison, fail to meet international standards and unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression.
